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First Congregational Church 

North Adams, Massachusetts 



ADDRESSES AND PAPERS 

PRESENTED AT THE 

Diamond Jubilee 
1827-1902 

MAY n- H 



"Remember thy congregation, which thou has purchased 
of old ; this Mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt." 



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THE ADVANCE PRESS 
North Adams, Mass. 






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INTRODUCTION 



Long must the memory of the seventy-fifth anni- 
versary of the North Adams Congregational Church linger 
as an inspiring influence in the hearts of all who partici- 
pated in it. 

Careful preparations had been made for the celebration 
of the anniversary. A committee had been appointed over 
two years before to gather materials for a. history of the 
church. As the time of the anniversary drew near special 
committees were appointed to look after details and they 
did this work most faithfully. The weather was ideal 
throughout the anniversary week. The Berkshires were 
clad in their freshest and most beautiful garb as if to wel- 
come our returning friends. Every living pastor of the 
church was present. From widely different sections former 
members of our church family returned. The days were 
crowned with the happiness which comes from the renewal 
of old ties of friendship and affection. 

The feeling of the community and of the denomination 
at large can be best appreciated in the light of the follow- 
ing extracts from the local and denominational press, which 
the anniversary committee request me to insert in this in- 
troduction : The North Adams Daily Transcript of Sat- 
urday, May 10, said editorially : 

"The event will be one to command attention not only 
of the religious world, but of every denomination and those 
of no denomination in North Adams. The history of the 
city has been closely associated with that of the religious 



6 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

societies which have grown up with it, and the city cannot 
afford to underestimate the influence thus exerted. 

"Much will be said during the celebration of the ability 
and fame of those who have been at the head of the church, 
of the pastors who, both here and in the churches to which 
they have gone from here, have taken high rank in the re- 
ligious life and thought of the country. But most of all 
there should be remembered at this jubilee time those who, 
sitting in the pews on Sunday, have taken part in the busi- 
ness life of the community on the other days of the week. 
For it is the influence of the church on the daily life of the 
community that makes the anniversary an event to be heed- 
ed by North Adams as a whole. 

"Few communities have been built up more exclusively 
by men who were devoting a part of their attention to the 
church as well as to other interests than North Adams. At 
the present time to a large extent those who are prominent 
in the community life are prominent also in church work. 
It is this which gives the event so much more than a de- 
nominational significance, and makes it in the broadest 
sense a community affair." 

An editorial in The Evening Herald for May 12 used 
these words : 

"The anniversary celebration of the Congregational 
church is of interest and importance to the entire commu- 
nity. 

"If there is one thing that strikes a stranger who comes 
to this city more forcibly than another it is the existence of 
a concord and co-operation among the various church de- 
nominations, such as is seen hardly anywhere else in New 
England. 

"If we are not mistaken, this is largely due to Gladden, 
to Munger,to Coyle and to Tenney. If this friendly feeling 
continues to grow as it has in the past, in 75 years more all 
denominations, Catholic and Protestant, will be united. 

"Another thought that strikes us forcibly in a hurried 
glance at this diamond jubilee is that whilst in itself that 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 7 

period compared to the breadth of time itself is like a grain 
of sand on the seashore, yet it comprehends a most momen- 
tous epoch in history. When this Congregational church was 
established, communication between towns was by means 
of common dirt roads. Seventy-five years ago was a time 
of unhygienic dwellings ; of bungling surgery and unalle- 
viated pain ; of human slavery ; of toothless old age ; of un- 
lighted towns ; of ox-wagon teams and stages ; of tallow 
dips. Magazines, books, carpets, curtains, pictures, gas, 
coal and bathing appliances were luxuries. The wonders 
of electricity were unknown. In most respects there had 
been little advance over the centuries and centuries pre- 
ceding. Thus the 75 years which the church has existed 
have been the most momentous of any similar length of 
time in the world's history. 

"Another thought that perhaps may be appropriate to 
the occasion is the fact that the church has not always had 
smooth sailing. It has seen its troubles, its hardships and 
its extremities. And in the case of institutions, like that 
of individuals, these develop character. The church or the 
person who has always had material prosperity knows very 
little about life and is scarcely fit for its duties and respon- 
sibilities. 

"And one more thought. Few cities indeed have had 
the rare advantage of having both a Munger and a Gladden 
in their midst. Some have had the one, and great cities of 
course have many preachers of the highest eloquence, but 
none can boast of having two such gifted men. Their en- 
lightened knowledge and teaching and their progressive 
thought have made its impress upon the entire city and no 
one can fail to observe it. Moreover the present pastor is 
a man of the same pattern as were the others. It is a re- 
cord that has hardly a parallel. 

"One more thought and the last. This anniversary 
celebration is another proof of the truth of the remark that 
the good men do lives after them and is not always interred 
with their bones as Mark Antony said. The portraits on the 
walls of the church and the tender allusions to former 



8 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

church workers are the best evidences of the value of a well 
spent life. These honored names left something better and 
more lasting than wealth and it is gratifying to know that 
their work has not been forgotten. 

"North Adams ought to be proud of the Congregational 
church ; proud of its history, of its faith ; proud of its work 
under difficulties ; and proud of the men it has had as pas- 
tors, no less than of its broad and scholarly present pastor, 
whose heart beats for humanity, Rev. Mr. Tenney." 

The Congregationalist for May 26 printed a picture of 
the four living pastors upon its cover and under the title 
"A Notable Church and Pastoral Succession" said : 

"When a church has builded itself into the life of a 
community to the extent that is true of the Congregational 
church in North Adams, Mass., its diamond jubilee becomes 
an occasion from which all the churches of our order may 
draw wholesome lessons. Elsewhere we report it more ful- 
ly, and on our cover page we place a picture, taken last 
week, of all the living ministers who have stood in pastoral 
relations to the church. Any church might be expected to 
prosper which has had in succession as its leaders Wash- 
ington Gladden, Lewellyn Pratt, Theodore T. Munger, the 
lamented and brilliant John Patterson Coyle and William 
L. Tenney. Differing widely in their personal characteris- 
tics, these men were one in their large conception of the 
function of a church. As a result the North Adams church 
has exerted a continuous and powerful influence upon the 
city. The hospital, the library and the rare spirit of Chris- 
tian fraternity among all denominations are due in no small 
part to the breadth of the faith and the constancy of minis- 
try to human need which this church has always illustrat- 
ed. It is not a case where ministers alone have made the 
church strong and useful. It has been blessed with good 
timber in the pews in such men as Judge Robinson, Colonel 
Bracewell and Deacon Perry. The North Adams church 
stands today as a convincing proof of the possibility of yok- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 9 

ing liberal theological opinions with warm spiritual life 
and intense zeal for the world's salvation." 

Not alone will this anniversary volume be a visible 
memorial of this most important event in the history of 
the church. The children of Dr. Yeomans, Dr. Russell, 
Dr. Crawford, and Rev. Mr. Paine have presented their 
fathers' pictures to the church and the pictures of the re- 
maining pastors will soon hang upon the walls of the chapel 
as a token of the love of those to whom they ministered. 

A beautiful memorial window to Dr. Yeomans, illus- 
trating his favorite text, "Behold the Lamb of God," has 
been generously given by his one surviving child) 
Mrs. Louisa Yeomans Boyd of Harrisburg, Penn., whose 
gracious presence at the anniversary was such a source 
of happiness to those who revered the memory of her 
father. 

Mr. John Parkhill of Fitchburg, as a token of his ap- 
preciation of his visit to his old church, has presented the 
church with an individual communion service. 

But with all these abiding tokens of the chastened 
joys of anniversary week, let us pray that the stronger 
faith and completer service of the church which is to be, 
may be the most enduring memorial of the heroic faith 
and Christ-like deeds of the men and women whose lives 
have been made so real to us by means of our Diamond 
Jubilee. 

May the record which this volume contains awaken in 
our children not only a righteous pride in the church of 
their fathers but also courage to battle for the church of 
their children. 

Wilwam Lawrence Tenney. 

The Parsonage, North Adams, Mass. 
November 20, 1902. 



PASTORATES 



Rev. John Williams Yeomans, 1827 — 1832 

Rev. Caleb Branch Tracy, 1832 — 1834 

Rev. Alvah Day, 1835 — 1836 

Rev. Ezekiel Russell, 1836 — 1839 

Rev. Robert Crawford, 1840 — 1855 

Rev. Albert Paine, 1856— 1862 

Rev. W. Henry McGiffert, 1863 — 1865 

Rev. Addison Ballard (Supply), 1865 — 1866 

Rev. Washington Gladden, 1866 — 1871 

Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, 1871 — 1876 

Rev. Theodore Thornton Munger, 1877— 1885 

Rev. John Patterson Coyle, 1886— 1894 

Rev. William Lawrence Tenney, j 895— 




1827-REV. John W. YEOMANS-1832 



PROGRAM 



SUNDAY MORNING, MAY n, AT 10.30 
Service Prelude. "Largo." Handel 

Hymn 333. "All hail the power of Jesus' name!" 
(Sung at the organization of the Church, April 19, 1827.) 

Invocation. The congregation joining with the Pastor 
in the closing confession: 

"Almighty God, unto whom all hearts 
are open, all desires known, and from 
whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the 
thoughts of our hearts by the inspira- 
tion of Thy Holy Spirit that we may 
perfectly love Thee, and worthily mag- 
nify Thy Holy Name: through Christ 
our Lord. Amen." 

Old Testament Lesson. Isaiah 35. 

Anthem. "Te Deum." Blumenschein 

New Testament Lesson. Hebrews 11:1-10 — 32 to Ch. 
12:2. 

Anthem. "Round About the Starry Throne." Handel 

Responsive Lesson. Psalm 116. 

Gloria. 

Apostles' Creed. 

Offering. 

Offertory Chant. 

Offertory Prayer. 

Hymn 499. (2d Tune.) "Rise, my soul, and stretch thy 
wings." 

(Sung at the installation of Dr. Russell.) 



1 2 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Prayer. Rev. Addison Ballard, Acting Pastor of this 
Church from February 19, 1865, to April 1, 1866. 

Hymn 630. "I love Thy kingdom, Lord." 

Sermon. Rev. Theodore T. Hunger, D. D., Pastor of this 
Church from December n, 1877, to November 4, 
1885. 

Anniversary Hymn. (Tune Hursley.) 

Our Father, from whose hand the years 
Fall, laden with our joys and tears, 
We come to Thee with memories 
Hallowed and sweet, of other days. 

Here at this altar raised to Thee 
By those who served Thee faithfully 
In deeds of love and sacrifice, 
Let incense of remembrance rise. 

Now to our spiritual sight 
Reveal the Holy City's light, 
And all who, leaving care and sin, 
Have through this gateway entered in. 

We praise Thee, Lord, that on us all 
The blessing of their lives doth fall, 
We praise thee that it is Thy will 
The work they planned we should fulfill. 

Abide with us! pour out the wine 
For us anew of love divine, 
And so this house of Thine shall be 
Reconsecrated unto Thee. 

— Mrs. E. A. McMillin. 
Service Postlude. "Allegro." Volckmar 

SUNDAY SCHOOL, 12.30 P. M. 
In place of the regular lesson, brief addresses by Frank- 
lin H. Whitney and Mary Hunter Williams upon "The 
Story of Our School" and "Sunday School Memories." 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 13 

YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN 
ENDEAVOR, 7.15 P. M. 

The story of the Young People's Association organized 
during the pastorate of Dr. Gladden, by William W. 
Butler. The story of the present society organized dur- 
ing the pastorate of Dr. Coyle, by William Ritchie. 

SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 11, AT 7.30 
Service Prelude. "Oflertoire." Wely 

Hymn 637. "Oh, where are kings and empires now." 

(Sung- at the dedication of our present Church.) 
Invocation. Addison Ballard, D. D. 
Scripture Lesson. Revelation 21. 

Anthem. "Fear not ye, O Israel." Splecker 

Prayer. Rev. Theodore T. Munger, D. D. 
Anthem. "The Radiant Morn Has Passed Away." 

Woodward 
Offering. 

Hymn 390. (4th Tune.) "Rock of Ages." 

(Sung at Dr, Crawford's installation.) 

A Review of the History of the Church. Rev. 
William E. Tenney, Pastor of this Church since Oc- 
tober 1, 1895. 

Anniversary Hymn. 

Benediction. 

Service Postlude. 

The spirit of friendship is the supreme manifestation of the spirit of Jesus 
in society. — T>r. Coyle. 

MONDAY, MAY 12 

A day for renewing acquaintance with old friends and 
the hills. 

The mountains ! the mountains ! we greet them with a song, 
Whose echoes rebounding their woodland heights along, 
Shall mingle with anthems that winds and fountains sing, 
Till hill and valley gaily, gaily ring. 

— Dr. Gladden. 



14 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 12, AT 2.00 

"Days of Auld Lang Syne." 

George French, Senior Deacon, presiding. 

Devotional Service. 

Hymn 273. (2d Tune.) "In the cross of Christ! glory." 

Reminiscences. Dictated by Edwin Rogers during the 
winter of 1900 and 1901. 

Hymn 630. "I love Thy kingdom, Lord." 
(A favorite hymn of Edwin Rogers.) 

Our Church Buildings, their Contents and Care. 
Deacon James E. Hunter. 

The Music of the Church. Deacon George W. Chase. 

The Patriotic Record of the Church. Capt. J. Q. 
Irwin. 

Hymn 753. "My country! 'tis of thee." 

The Diaconate. Rev. George A. Jackson 

Solo. "The Lord is my light." Allitsen 

Silas R. Mills of Northampton. 

The Longest Pastorate of the Church. Rev. Lyn- 
don S. Crawford, D. D., son of Rev. Robert Craw- 
ford, Pastor of the Church from August 20, 1840, to 
September 28, 1855. 

The Dedication of the Present Church. 
Rev. Addison Ballard, D. D. 

Anniversary Hymn. 

5.30 to 6.30 p. m. Supper in the chapel for guests. 

6.30 to 7.30 p. m. Reception in the church parlors, at 
which all the members and friends of the Church 
were given an opportunity of meeting former pas- 
tors, former members and Quests. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 1 5 

TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 13, AT 7.30 

Service Prelude. "L'Esperance." Papini 

(String Quartet and Organ.) 

Hymn 633. "The church's one foundation." 

Invocation. Rev. Thomas A. Emerson, D. D., son-in-law 
of Dr. Crawford. 

Scripture Lesson. Isaiah 61. 

Anthem. "Praise the Lord, O ye nations." Randegger 

Prayer. Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, D. D., Pastor of the Church 
from December 7, 1871, to September 1, 1876. 

Anthem. "Gloria." 12th Mass. Mozart 

Greetings from Our City. Rev. John C. Tebbetts, Rec- 
tor St. John's Episcopal Church. 

Greetings from the Parent Church. Rev. Willis H. 
Butler, Pastor First Congregational Church, Wil- 
liamstown. 

Music. "Andante Cantabile." Op. 11. Tschaikowsky 

(String Quartet.) 

Greetings from the Fostering College. Rev. Henry 
Hopkins, D. D., President-elect of Williams. 

Hymn 228. "O Master, let me walk with Thee." 
(Dr. Gladden's Hymn.) 

Address. "Witnesses for the Light." Rev. Washington 
Gladden, D. D., Pastor of this Church from April 
1, 1866, to March 23, 1871. 

Prayer. 

Anthem. "Hallelujah Chorus." Handel 

Congregation stand. (Chorus, String Quartet and Organ.) 

Benediction. 

Service Postlude. "Festival March." Calkin 



16 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR V 

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 14, AT 2.00 

(In the Chapel) 

The Women and Their Work in the Church. 

Mary Hunter 'Williams, presiding. 

Music. 

Devotional Service. 

Hymn hi. "Come, let us join our cheerful songs." 

Tributes to Early Members. 

Sketch of the Ladies' Aid Society. 
Mrs. Charles H. Cutting 

Sketch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. 
Mrs. John A. Rice. 

Hymn 219. "From Greenland's icy mountains." 
(Sung at the organization of the Church.) 

Address. "Congregational Liberty." Miss Anna L. Dawes. 

Music. 

Tributes to Early Members. 

Reminiscences and Greetings. From friends present 
and absent. 

Hymn. "Blest be the tie that binds." 
(Sung at Dr. Crawford's installation.) 

Sketch of the Woman's Home Missionary Society. 
Mrs. David A. Anderson. 

Sketch of the Woman's Association. Mrs. R. L. Chase. 

Anniversary Hymn. 

Five O'Clock Tea. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 1 7 

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 14, AT 7.30 
SERVICE PrEEUDE. "Invocation." Mailly 

Hymn 468. "Oh, could I speak the matchless worth." 
(Sung at Dr. Gladden's installation.) 

Anthem. "Hearken unto me, my people." Sullivan 

Scripture Lesson, i Corinthians 13. 

Quartet. "God is a spirit." Bennett 

Reception of New Members. 

Prayer. Rev. Lyndon S. Crawford, D. D. 

Hymn 442. "Nearer, my God, to Thee." 

(Sung at dedication of our present Church.) 

Address. "The Fellowship of the Church." Rev. 
Lewellyn Pratt, D. D. 

Hymn 229, "Fairest Lord Jesus." (Reverse order of stanzas.) 
(A favorite hymn of Dr. Coyle.) 

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Rev. Drs. Pratt and 
Emerson officiating. 

Anniversary Hymn. 

Benediction. 

Service Postlude. "Grand Chorus." Cappelen 



Dr. Hunger on His Pastorate. 



Deuteronomy 8 : 7 — For the Lord thy God bringeth 
thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains 
and depths that spring out of valleys and hills. 

Psalm 125: 2 — As the mountains are round about Jer- 
usalem, so the Lord is round about his people from hence- 
forth even forever. 

Psalm 137 : 5 — If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my 
right hand forget her cunning. 

One motive that led the Hebrews to press on in their 
journey was the features of the country beyond the Jordan. 
Egypt had one great river that brought fertility by annual 
overflow, but it was not a land of brooks, and fountains and 
depths that spring out of valleys. There were mountains 
in the desert, but they were bare and awful and at 
times dark with tempests. The mountains described by 
the spies were vineclad and full of springs and brooks. 
And later, when they had fought their way across Jordan 
and driven out the Gentiles and won peaceful homes 
where every man sat under his own vine and fig tree, 
and there was none to molest or make them afraid, a 
passionate love for this country grew up within them 
that nothing could destroy. Exile only deepened it. 
As they sat by the waters of Babylon and mingled with 
them their tears, they pledged themselves to undying re- 
membrance even if they should die in bondage. 

This love of place is a very deep and sacred thing 
with us. One who has it and with it a thoughtful heart, 



2o SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

cannot refrain from speaking of home as the place which 
the Lord hath given. 

I fear the sermon I am about to preach will be full of 
personality ; and that I shall often break a rigid rule — hardly 
departed from in a ministry of almost half a century — and 
often speak of myself. And to begin with it — I will con- 
fess that the place itself entered largely into the history of 
the church while I was its minister. It was not merely 
that the region was beautiful and pleasing to me, but it 
entered into my being and became a part of my thought — 
shaping and coloring it and lending itself to me so far as I 
could receive it and give it back in words. I came here 
in need of strength and cheer — for life had gone rather 
hard with me in the few previous years — and I at once 
found them and more, in the region itself. And, so long 
as I staid, there was never an hour when, if there was 
weariness or anxiety or discouragement or trouble of 
any sort, I did not find relief in Greylock. It did not 
displace God, but I learned by experience what the old 
Hebrew meant when he said: "I will lift up mine eyes to 
the hills from whence cometh my help." 

In rehearsing the history of the church during the 
eight years I was pastor (for I shall not attempt to cover 
the other pastorates) I question whether it will be better to 
play the part of annalist and simply chronicle what was 
done, or to indulge in that tell-tale habit of old age — 
reminiscence. 

A critical event occurred at the very outset, even be- 
fore I became pastor, the question at issue being whether 
or not I should be installed. As the council became a mat- 
ter of importance — far less to me than to the denomina- 
tion — I will presently speak of it more fully. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 21 

My first visit to North Adams was on the nth day of 
August, 1877. I was entertained at the house of Mrs. But- 
ler on Bank street. The beautiful hospitality of that 
home, the Christian gentleness of Mrs. Butler and her sis- 
ter, the morning worship together — all this I recall with 
tender gratitude. How sweet is the memory still of those 
gentlewomen in the hearts of some of you ! In the after- 
noon of that day Deacon Jewett drove me — behind an excel- 
lent horse — down the valley as far as Williamstown, and I 
prayed that my lines might be cast in these places. Grey- 
lock, the Taconic, Hoosac— these were irresistible. The 
next Sunday was spent in the house of Mr. Thayer. 
A call followed these two Sundays, which I accepted, 
taking up my residence with you on the 12th of October. 
On the next Sunday I preached an introductory sermon. 
Not heeding how fearfully appropriate the text might be 
regarded if any gainsayer should see fit to make a personal 
application of it, I selected the 27th verse of the first 
chapter of First Corinthians:— "But God hath chosen the 
foolish things of the world to confound the wise." A 
history of the church during my pastorate would be 
incomplete if I did not give a full account of the council 
that installed me. I trust I shall not be misunderstood, 
especially as to my motive, when I say that this council 
was not only an event that gave this church notoriety, both 
in its good and bad sense, for a year at least, but it furn- 
ished a page in the history of Congregationalism in New 
England that will not escape the attention of the historian 
in future years. 

Not far from the date of my settlement here, Canon 
Farrar's volume "The Eternal Hope" was published in 
London. No book of theologv in the last half of the 



22 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

century awakened so deep an interest as this. Many of 
more importance were published, but this aroused in- 
tense interest because it touched the deepest feeling of 
humanity, and also because it seemed to controvert the 
accepted doctrine of endless punishment. The subject 
was not a new one, but its treatment by a churchman 
was new. I do not remember that I had then or later 
read it, but the subject had long been in my mind and 
my opinions were fixed. The idea of the book was that 
those who die without a knowledge of Christ in this world 
may come to a knowledge of Him in the next world and be 
saved through faith in him. Stated briefly, and roughly, 
it expressed the hope that the heathen might be saved. 
Besides this, the book was overspread with the hope that 
the mercy of God was not exhausted in this world, and 
might reach throughout the entire region of the dead with 
restoring power. The book was not dogmatic, but dealt 
with a human hope ; hence its power. It was visited with 
anathemas, and it was read with tears by those who had 
buried their dead without hope. 

I refer thus at length to this book because the subject 
was not only in the air, but filled it. A short time before 
our council was called, the famous Indian Orchard council 
had been held, by which installation was refused to Rev. 
Mr. Merriam for "avowing his disbelief in an eternity of 
conscious misery for any soul." The rejection of Mr. 
Merriam — a man of the highest character — raised a ferment 
in all churches of all denominations throughout the coun- 
try. A large majority of the Congregational ministers in 
New England sustained the council. A small but able 
minority regarded it as a reproach — holding that there 
was liberty of opinion within the ministry upon this sub- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 23 

ject. Besides, the age of humanity had dawned, and one 
of those subtle changes had begun to creep over the de- 
nomination, such as often had happened, through which 
old beliefs had been greatly modified or even discarded, 
and room was made for new or exacter truth. That this is 
possible and happens, is the glory of Congregational- 
ism ; it thus keeps pace with the unfolding world. The 
Indian Orchard council seemed to turn the tide of thought 
and growth backward. Feeling ran deep ; the debate in 
the religious press was hot ; in the secular press it was 
contemptuous. Sharing to the full in the feeling that 
the denomination had incurred the shame of a grievous 
blunder, and with a council awaiting me just at hand, 
the question arose what I should say. I simply said there 
must be no withholding of belief, no avoidance of the 
subject, no paltering with language, no hedging and 
no fear of possible consequences. I had heard from Dr. 
Taylor (of revered memory) in the divinity school this 
bit of advice : "Be perfectly honest in forming all your 
opinions and principles of action ; never swerve in conduct 
from your honest convictions ; if between them both you 
go over Niagara, go !" Being already in the rapids, and 
the roar of the Indian Orchard council ringing in my ears, 
I made up my mind to say what my dear old teacher would 
have gone over Niagara rather than say, and read a paper 
an hour long, the greater part of which was devoted to es- 
chatology. 

It is not necessary to rehearse even the points I made; 
I think I am safe in saying that the majority of our Con- 
gregational clergy today would assent to the positions 
taken. I simply asserted that all souls salvable will be 
saved; I rejected the opinion that the great masses of man- 



24 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

kind are subjected to endless pains in the future world ; 
I asserted my belief that if, at any time, in any world, a 
sinner repented, God would forgive him ; I denied that the 
mercy of God was ever exhausted ; or that the grace of God 
would ever be withheld ; I denied the force of the govern- 
mental theories that demand eternal punishment in order 
to uphold divine justice ; and throughout I rested on eter- 
nal hope for all, but did not assert a positive belief. I had 
none then ; I have none now. 

In the examination that followed, the point of ques- 
tion lay in the fact that I cherished a hope for which I had 
no belief. Here, I encountered the rock of New England 
polemics ; how can you have a hope without rational rea- 
sons for it which would be of the nature of belief ? It was 
not as easy to say in 1877 as now that we hope for many 
things and believe but few things. We feel today 
the mystery of the universe as we did not then. We be- 
lieve in the love of God more positively, but many of the 
things we call beliefs we now refer to what Pasteur, the 
great scientist, called "a trustful acquiescence in the mys- 
tery of the universe." If one has what Pasteur had — "a 
constant aspiration towards the Ideal, and a deep convic- 
tion of the reality of the Infinite," such hope or trust far 
outweighs all belief. The belief wavers and changes ; the 
hope never. I had gone over Niagara, but I was more 
alive than in any previous moment of my existence. The 
heavens sometimes open to a man when he feels that, in a 
great matter he has done right. I find upon the leaves of 
the paper read — now yellow with time — these old and 
familiar lines : 

"If I am right, thy grace impart 

Still in the right to stay ; 
If I am wrong, O teach my heart 

To find that better way." 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 25 

The favorable result of the council was due in a meas- 
ure to the storm of protest against the Indian Orchard 
council — especially from the secular press. I do not mean 
that the council was frightened by it, but that it led them 
to ask if the Congregational churches count endless pun- 
ishment as a prime factor in orthodoxy. But the result 
was more due to the eminent ability of the council. It 
embraced President Hopkins, President Porter, Dr. Glad- 
den, Dr. Buckingham, Dr. Crawford — a former pastor — 
Rev. George A. Jackson — a former resident — Prof. Perry, 
Deacon W. A. Plunkett, Dr. Jenkins, Rev. R. I. Billings of 
Dalton, Rev. Evarts Scudder of Great Barrington — all men 
of high standing, and two of them easily the first men in 
the denomination. The result was mainly due to Pres- 
ident Porter, who contended that the office of a council was 
not to establish a dogma, but to examine into the fitness 
of a man to preach the gospel. President Porter and Dr. 
Bushnell were the first men in our Congregational body 
to open their eyes to the light of the modern world. The 
old dialectic, dogmatic age had gone and a new habit of 
thought had begun. . I could not be justified in taking so 
much time in speaking of one incident of an installation 
— and that largely personal — were it not that the most im- 
portant factor in the whole matter was the conduct of the 
church. So far as I have known the history of this church, 
it has always supported with truest loyalty all its pastors. I 
think it has never sent away a minister nor parted with one 
save with regret. Of course individuals may have indulged 
in criticism and even opposition — how could it be other- 
wise in so large a church, and especially in a church that 
busied itself in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the 
town ? But the great body of the church has stood by its 
pastors in all the seventy-five years of its history. 



26 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

One reason for this, however, is the fact that all the pas- 
tors (with one inevitable exception) have been men whom 
you could hardly treat otherwise. Dr. Crawford was a 
saint, an Israelite in whom there was no guile, a man whom 
one could only love and venerate. Dr. Gladden, bringing 
here his splendid powers in the full flush of his early 
manhood, a man whom it was impossible not to respect, 
with perhaps a slight touch of fear, for there was a com- 
bative element in him that came out when truth and 
right and humanity summoned it ; but with all, a tender 
Christian faith that always prayed : "O Master, let me walk 
with Thee." In Dr. Gladden's ministry a certain sense of 
freedom and breadth and toleration took possession of this 
church that has never left it. He made my ministry 
not only possible but peaceful. In the intimacy of this 
hour, I may take the liberty of saying that there is no 
man in the country with whom, on all important subjects, 
I am in so full agreement, and in whose judgment I 
have so much confidence. His career has been increasingly 
strong and brilliant and directing. Few men carry more 
weight in questions of civics, or sociology or theology ; 
and as for Christian faith and service, is it not voiced 
in his matchless hymn sung the world over? In this 
connection I cannot fail to mention one fact, for it is a 
part of your history, namely, that when he was installed 
here in 1866, Dr. Horace Bushnell preached the sermon 
by the joint invitation of Dr. Gladden and the church. 
Dr. Bushnell was without question the first man in 
the Congregational pulpit in the last century, but for 
a few years he was under a theological ban, and most 
of the pulpits in New England were not open to him. Dr. 
Gladden, who said only three years ago, "Had I not 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 27 

found his books, I must have stopped preaching," wrote 
inviting him to preach the sermon. Dr. Bushnell hesi- 
tated lest he should compromise the young minister. 
Dr. Gladden was not a man to yield to such considerations. 
It should be kept in everlasting remembrance by this church 
that in 1866 Dr. Horace Bushnell preached the sermon at 
the installation of Dr. Gladden from Second Corinthians 
iv, 6, on "The gospel of the face." President Hopkins, who 
was present, was asked, "Is not that the gospel ?" "Nothing 
else is the gospel," was his quick reply. 

Dr. Pratt's short ministry did not disturb the current 
of influence that flowed down from that of Dr. Gladden. 
Catholic in his views, irenic in his spirit, dominated by the 
law of kindness, radiating good cheer, a faithful pastor and 
everybody's friend, he left you untimely — over-tempted by 
the bright shining of the college towers down the valley. 

My acquaintance with Mr. Coyle was slight, but 
long acquaintance is not necessary to knowledge. A chance 
wind lifts the curtain, and one glance reveals all the beau- 
tiful chamber within. Absolute in his virility, he was 
feminine in the delicacy of his spirituality. In reading 
his book " The Spirit in Literature and Life", you would 
think him a metaphysical recluse ; to watch him in daily 
life you would know you were looking on a man with 
whom it was " Christ to live " in the highest forms of that 
life. He once came to see me in New Haven — " so full of 
health," he said, " that he did not know what to do with 
it." Not long after he was tempted away from this para- 
dise to what he knew would be a field of relentless diffi- 
culty — and that, I can imagine, was his reason for going ; 
his nature and his faith demanded the hard and strenuous. 



28 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

One dash at his work and in a moment all was over. 
When I heard of it, Milton's great line came to me : 
" For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime." 

Mr. Coyle was a man of great ability — overweighted 
by a metaphysical habit, and living, if it were possible, 
almost too close to his ideals, he carried these ideals into 
actual daily life- — forcing himself and others into a 
real acceptance of them by the very impetuosity of his 
faith. He had a passion for the ideal and sometimes came 
near forgetting that the practical and the possible are as 
sacred as the ideal ; and that it is quite as easy to be mis- 
taken in ideals as in what is practical and possible. Christ 
is no more one than the other. And yet what is wiser and 
plainer than these words : " There is no more of the Chris- 
tian spirit in the world than there is of the Christ." This 
is something which a man and a church will do well 
always to remember. 

In looking over the salient features of the history of 
the church during my pastorate, the one I oftenest remem- 
ber is the part taken by the churches of the town in pro- 
viding it with institutions. For some reason — perhaps be- 
cause it was divided into two very energetic villages each 
quite conscious of its rights and privileges — little had 
been done towards securing them. Neither village had 
institutions — as they are called — beyond schools, church- 
es, and fire, water and gas companies. The village was so 
large and — may I say it — so much in evidence in the public 
prints — that this lack had become rather unpleasantly 
notorious. We had reposed too long on our laurels of 
Chinese labor and the Hoosac tunnel. Let it not be 
thought that I even intimate that the town was pervaded 
by ignorance. As a proof of the contrary let me say that 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 29 

some time before 1879 f° r ty copies of the Encyclopedia 
Brittannica were sold in North Adams, thus providing a 
large proportion of the people with the most valuable book 
in the language. But the encyclopedia was not a library, 
and what was needed, by every consideration, was a public 
library and reading-room. Taking my stand on the ground 
of the Puritan New England pastor, who always had led 
the way in all matters of education and general welfare, on 
Thanksgiving day, 1879, I preached on the subject and 
met with the heartiest sympathy from the leading men of 
the village ; of course all the women were even more en- 
thusiastic. I think the men of the congregation were 
somewhat startled when reminded that North Adams had 
paid out #5,000 for forty copies of Encyclopedia Britannica 
— enough to purchase 3,000 volumes and support a public 
library for one year ; also that the high school required a 
study of English literature and history and there were no 
books on either subject in town. It was not, however y 
until 1883 that any action was taken ; the subject, however, 
was much discussed and secured a victory for itself by its 
own inherent reasonableness, and let us say also by civic 
pride. On the evening of July 25, 1883, a company of 
about fifteen gentlemen met at the house of Mr. Wither ell 
to consult in regard to action. They represented all 
churches, and thus at once all ecclesiastical features were 
excluded from the undertaking; and so, I think, it has 
continued until today. Yet it must not be overlooked that 
it is due to the churches of North Adams that it has both 
a public library and a hospital. I shall never cease to re- 
member with delight and gratitude the rapid and energetic 
and harmonious action of this company of co-workers. It 
was a library and a reading-room that we ourselves pro- 



SO SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

posed to secure without waiting for some rich citizen to die 
before getting it. We acted on a political catchword then 
much used, "The way to resume specie payment is to re- 
sume." This bit of solid common sense became our motto 
and we began at once to act on it. Twenty of our number 
pledged a guarantee fund of a hundred dollars each ; hired 
a vacant store on the main street, and before the month 
was out had a library and reading-room in full operation. 
It consisted of about 1,500 volumes of a library association 
not in active operation, the papers and magazines of the 
day and a librarian. It was open all day and evening and 
was advertised by an illuminated cotton screen — much the 
largest feature of the whole business. It was immensely 
popular, and was insured for one year by the guarantee 
fund. A fair on a large scale was immediately projected 
under the auspices of all the churches and indeed the 
entire community. I do not know how it is today, but 
twenty years ago North Adams became as one man when 
any matter of real public interest was undertaken. The 
fair yielded enough to support the library until the town 
assumed it, since when it has been as the eye to the body — 
filling it with light. We do not presume to say that the 
existence of the library is due to this church. It would 
have come soon without the aid of the church. All we as- 
sert is that this church was so responsive to its Puritan 
traditions that it responded with alacrity when they were 
brought to mind. 

The part of this church in securing a hospital is at 
least equally honorable. Somewhat early in my ministry, 
a society of very young people of the congregation — child- 
ren indeed — held a fair and came to me with the proceeds 
— a large fraction of a hundred dollars as I remember it — 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 



3i 



and asked what they should do with it. I said : Put it into 
the savings bank for a hospital ; sometime one will be built 
and yours will be the first money." Even so it was. For, 
I know not how long-, the children's money — earned with 
their own hands — lay sleeping and growing in the bank, 
until the tragedy of the railroad yard threw upon the com- 
munity a score of wounded men to be cared for and no fit 
means. The hospital followed — born of pity and civic wis- 
dom, and already blessed by the unconscious prayers of 
little children. On the 29th of October, 1882, a collection 
in behalf of the hospital was taken up in all the churches 
— an annual custom. You gave at that time $218.38 after 
a sermon that was at least faithful and to the point. May I, 
at this late day, commend you for a rate of giving that was 
large in relation to your means. 

Now that I am upon this subject of institutions, let me 
say that during the eight years I was here, the attention of 
the church was steadily held down to this feature of our 
common life and duty. The Puritan conception was cher- 
ished. We stood for good habits, good manners and good 
laws. The state and the church were not alien or aloof 
from each other. We kept well out of isms, and passed 
over raw and crude theories of society that were bub- 
bling up out of the depths as matters one side of a church 
but we insisted on law and virtue and liberty and toleration 
and established principles. Temperance came in for a 
large share of my attention, my constant claim being obedi- 
ence to the law whatever it was ; but I did not prescribe 
what the law should be. I learned here that there is no 
subject more difficult for the pulpit to handle than that of. 
temperance. 



32 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

In the main, I think I can say that we kept close 
to the simple facts and truths of the gospel and tried to get 
down to the central idea of it rather than stray afield for 
new themes and startling theories. I must confess, however 
that I left Calvinism and its distinctive theories, one side, 
and I contrived to work in so much of modern thought and 
discovery that when I left the church you were not be- 
hind the age and, perhaps, were on the advance line of it. 
I strove, at least, to teach you to think, and even more stren- 
uously to believe. It would cut me to the quick if I were 
forced to feel, as I stand here today, that I had unsettled 
the faith of a single soul ; and it would be equally painful 
if I were forced to feel that the faith of any I had minister- 
ed to had not been quickened and enlightened and enlarged. 

One of the pleasantest things to remember is our part 
in the observance of "Children's Sunday." When I came 
here in 1877 its observance by the churches of the country 
had not become common. Here and there a church kept 
it — but fitfully and independently. I cannot recall if you 
had observed the day before my coming. However it was, 
we lifted it into a sacred festival, and I strove to honor it 
by preaching a written sermon. 

How beautiful is the memory of that June festival of 
flowers ! How tender was the blue of the sky, and with 
what whiteness of glory the clouds floated overhead, carry- 
ing the blessing of Greylock to Hoosac ! All the beauty 
of leaf and blossom that could be won from garden and 
mountain side, roses and larches, lilies of the field, and 
laurel from beyond the tunnel, palms from the south 
and violets from the meadow, woven emblems of love and 
hope for the long since dead, and tender memorials of chil- 
dren gathered into the Garden of God — all these were 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 33 

brought into the church and piled about the pulpit and 
chancel with a profusion that had no limit, save room to 
contain it. We have striven to imitate it in the city. 
What can hothouses yield to compare with the slopes of 
Greylock and the glens of Hoosac? The sermons I 
preached on those recurring days I brought together in a 
small volume which I still look at occasionally as a mother 
looks over the toys and dresses of her dead child ; for are 
not they to whom they were spoken dead to the childhood 
in which they listened and have passed on into the world 
of hard work where the flowers are fewer and the memories 
are wet with tears instead of the sacred dews of morning. 

Having referred to a published collection of sermons 
growing out of "Children's Sunday" may I speak of another 
small volume of addresses that is the joint product of the 
church and the pastor ; for so they may be regarded. It 
happened in this way. President Hopkins — always kind 
to me and to you — referred in a lecture given in our church 
one winter evening, to the value of courses of preaching. 
The same night I outlined a course of lectures to young 
men and preached nine on consecutive Sunday evenings. 
They happened to get into print and I do not cease to be 
astonished at the fact that they are still in demand, especi- 
ally at Christmas, by anxious fathers who regard it as a 
literary panacea for incipient wildness and good-for-noth- 
ingness in boys. But whatever good it may have done is 
due to President Hopkins and this church ; for without 
both it could not have come into existence. 

But Berkshire is a good breeding place for books — as the 
salmon seek the cool pools among the hills. The sky, the 
air, the brooks, the in-door winters, the out-door summers, 
the quiet and seclusion — all force one either to dream 



34 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

or idealize or speculate ; imaginary voices beyond the 
mountains call for some answer, and one tosses them a 
book. So it worked with Dr. Gladden and he is even now 
keeping up the habit here formed. So it would have been 
with Dr. Pratt had not Williams called him to come over 
and teach others how to write books. So also it worked on 
Mr. Coyle to the extent of two weighty volumes. 

All this would be irrelevant, were it not that whatever 
a pastor does or says or prints belongs to the history of the 

church. 

I hope you will not think it fanciful if I say that 
there is a tinge of sentiment in the church life of Berk- 
shire. It is a good thing and should be cherished. It is seen 
in the New Year sunrise meeting— distinctly a Berkshire in- 
stitution, originating, I think, in Stockbridge, and first held 
here in 1874,— four years before my observance of it. The 
day, as I recall it, well symbolized human life— in the 
morning praise and thanksgiving and joy in life ; in the 
afternoon a funeral ; in the evening a wedding ; such is the 
round of our days and years. The memory of its observance 
here returns with the day ever since ; the walk to church 
over the crisp snow in the faint light of dawn ; the unwont- 
edly crowded room ; the greetings that are prayers, the out- 
going of heart to heart, the re-consecration of life to life's 
duties, the renewed pledge of fidelity to the church ; the 
hymns— tender and triumphant, the walk home as the sun 
steals up behind Hoosac and illumines Greylock ;— if I 
forget all this and those who joined me in it, and if I cease 
to feel its impulses and its sacred beauty, let my right hand 
forget its cunning. It is in such hours that we touch 
heaven. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 35 

History, as Carlyle tells us, grows out of and is chiefly 
made up of persons, not events. So this sermon could in 
no sense be deemed historic if I did not speak a word at 
least of a few of those whom we best knew in our day. 
The earlier history down to Dr. Crawford's time is — like the 
early chapters of the Bible — rather chaotic and legendary ; 
the pastors even are like Melchisedek — having neither be- 
ginning of days nor end of life so far as the records show. 
Of one only can I speak from personal knowledge— Rev. 
Ezekiel Russell, whom I knew in the fifties when he was 
rounding out his ministry in Randolph in this State. He 
was a man of sound learning, of intellectual ability far be- 
yond the average, of relentless orthodoxy, but a man of 
warm and generous feeling — a Puritan of the first order ; 
a man whose rock-like strength was yet full of kindness 
and good will. But who that are here think of him now ? 
During my pastorate he — by previous agreement with Dr. 
Elihu S. Hawks — preached his funeral sermon. In some 
things the two men were alike ; each was loyal to his pro- 
fession, and served his day and generation under a high 
standard of duty. 

I will now speak briefly of a few whom we best knew 
while I was with you who have gone hence. 

One of the first to greet me was Edwin Rogers. What 
he was at first he was to the last. He had the musical 
temperament, the reformatory spirit, the Puritan conscience 
tempered by extreme geniality, a man of refined tastes, of 
infinite humor, of unceasing activity, and — if there had 
been nothing else to serve the same purpose here he would 
have kept North Adams from being a dull town. He was 
a good man ; he loved things that were true and high, and 
the city is not quite the same since he passed away. 



36 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

I pass to another type of man as I refer to Deacon 
Hunter. How true it is that sometimes a man pervades a 
community and fills it with his virtue. He becomes a 
standard of goodness. He regulates men's thoughts. No 
man questions his motives or his conduct. He is unassail- 
able and unimpeachable. There were no two opinions 
about Deacon Hunter. A Scot of the best type, his racial 
traits inexpungably fixed and yet with none that one could 
have wished absent ; keyed to the note of kindness, gener- 
ous to a fault, his voice and manner testifying to inborn 
and inbred courtesy and bearing witness also to an inward 
faith too deep and too real to need words to declare it. If 
ever these walls or windows commemorate your own dead, 
who are worthy to be so remembered, let it be Deacon 
James Hunter, for one, who fills the place. Thus, being 
dead, he will yet speak to you, and remind you what it is 
to be a good man and a good citizen. 

A very different man was Mr. Perry, who has just 
been taken away from you. I have no need to speak of 
him. Deacon Hunter was a true Scot ; Deacon Perry was 
a genuine American. Intensely active, absorbed in busi- 
ness to the last degree, he was never too busy to serve this 
church, and in how many forms ! Certainly in every form 
did he serve it except in preaching, and that he could have 
done had occasion required, for he was a man of good edu- 
cation and high intelligence and a profoundly religious 
nature. How thoroughly did he build himself into this 
church J How deeply did he love it! What a debt of 
gratitude does it owe him ! And how tenderly is he re- 
membered and respected by those who labored with him 
here year after year, as I did, with naught that I wish 
might be forgotten ! 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y tf 

I cannot forbear naming today Judge James T. Robin- 
son. He was not a member of the church, but he was too 
great a man not to be religious. He was cast in a large 
mould. He shared to the full the New England con- 
science. He not only believed in political righteousness, 
but he strove for it in that company of anti-slavery men, 
who won their ends and saved the Union, not by blindly 
following ideals, but by practical wisdom, which is the 
ideal of idealism. This group of statesmen, of whom Judge 
Robinson was the chief representative in Western Massachu- 
setts, and the most brilliant orator among them all, will 
stand as the purest and wisest set of men in the political 
history of the country. But the part he played in the first 
few years of its strenuous beginning had no commensurate 
fulfilment in later years. He might have gone high up in 
place, but stopped short in a newspaper office, fighting over 
his early battles after the issues were closed. But this was 
not all. As judge of probate in Berkshire for thirty-three 
years he became the friend of the widow and the orphan, 
securing for them justice and adding to it the quality of 
mercy. He was the best loved man in Berkshire and was 
counted a friend in almost every household, for he probated 
the wills of more than a generation. For myself, these 
hills over which I used to walk with him in all seasons 
and weather, are not the same now that he is not here ; and 
the pathos of it is all the deeper because already he has be- 
come a fading memory, and many of you have no knowl- 
edge whatever of the man of the most brilliant gifts who 
ever lived in this city. 

I would like to name others did time permit; Dr. 
Lawrence, kindest of friends and best of household doctors, 
a true professional man, who honored his profession in 



38 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

serving humanity ; Mr. Freeman and Mr. Johnson, men of 
large affairs, but not too busy to go to church every Sun- 
day, men of generous ways and good manners and kind 
hearts. Nor can I forbear speaking of Mr. Bracewell — 
also a man of large affairs; big-hearted and vital to his 
finger tips ; a commanding and moving force wherever he 
was ; immersed in business, but alive also to the Kingdom 
of God, and himself a humble believer in Jesus Christ as 
his Master ; the truest of friends and full of kindness to all 
men. We fail to measure the loss of such a man to the 
church and the community until he is gone from us. 

There is another of whom I would say a word, whose 
memory stays with us as sweet as the flowers she so loved. 
In Mrs. Swift there was the rarest combination of gentle- 
ness and strength, of the ideal and the practical ; so pure 
that she hardly seemed to touch the earth, but so human 
that no duties were too lowly if they might assuage the 
troubles of others ; beautiful in person and with manners 
born of the soul — both the outward signs of an inner life 
fed by water that flowed from under the throne of God. 
She always seemed to me a spiritual miracle and yet most 
human. What a soul returned to God when she left you ! 
What a servant of humanity was lost to the city when she 
no longer labored on its charities ! What an example of 
beautiful womanhood faded upon earth when she went to 
heaven ! 

Nor will I close without paying my tribute to the 
memory of my dear friend, James Paul. If he were alive 
— old as we are — we would climb Greylock tomorrow. If 
such a thing is granted to the dead, he still haunts those 
heights as of old. James Paul was a remarkable character. 
I think he could be best described as an embryonic poet 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 39 

and a full born saint. He was simplicity itself. There 
was not a false note in him. He was not broad except 
heavenward. Whatever he loved and believed in, he did 
with an intensity that knew no bounds. Pure in life 
and heart, and seeing God in all nature — especially the 
hills and woods, and in little children ; a humanitarian to 
the extent that he loved his neighbor better than himself ; 
so devoted to his ideals that he treated his external life 
with neglect — a day in the woods was better than two in 
the fields, and yet he was not indolent ; dwelling in the 
peace of God and in God himself ; — so I remember him 
and think of him along with those of whom Christ said 
that their angels do always behold the face of the Father in 
heaven. 

There are others who, like those I have spoken of, 
were a part of the history of this church, of whom I would 
like to speak if there were time ; but the hour is nearly 
over. How pathetic the recollection of them today ! How 
does everything except what was good and dear die out, 
leaving in our hearts only gratitude and love and honor ! 

In closing, I would say that if I were to name the chief 
characteristic of this church in all its history, it would be 
— a deep interest and quick responsiveness in all matters 
pertaining to the welfare of the community. This indeed 
may be said of all the churches here, among which there 
has always been a sincere fellowship and no rivalry. But 
this church, although not deeply rooted in the Puritan soil 
— being only seventy-five years old — has not lacked in the 
Puritan sense of responsibility for the general well-being 
of the town. Few communities have been more thoroughly 
dominated by the churches. The pulpits have shaped 
public sentiment and guided public action. In fulfilling 



40 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

this true function of a church, our own has not been a 
laggard. Whenever a call came from the people for any 
good thing or any high service it has not been the last to 
respond nor the first to give over. 

If I might close this rambling chapter of reminiscence 
with a word of exhortation, it would be a summons to even 
a higher degree of devotion in the same line of public ser- 
vice. For what else does the church exist but to make the 
people in and about it better through its own way ; — to fix 
high standards of conduct and hold the people up to them 
to teach them to live by the eternal laws of love and 
righteousness ; to fill it with a true sense of life — its nature 
and its destiny ; to breathe through it a spirit of reverence 
toward God, and to teach it to hate evil and to love good- 
ness? 

Our Lord said in regard to those about Him, "For 
their sakes I sanctify Myself." He could do nothing for 
them ; nor for the world except as He had sanctified Him- 
self; then He was full of saving power. It is not different 
with us. Here lies the secret of Christ, and of the church, 
and of our individual lives. It is a small question as to 
what we do or do not do ; the real question is what we are. 
The world is full of theories and schemes for overcoming 
evil and securing better conditions; this may be well 
enough and even necessary, but it does not fill out the 
Christian idea. The first and last work of a Christian is 
to make himself good as the only possible condition of 
making others good. There are some things in our religion 
that change — in form at least, but this never changes and 
will forever remain the same, — even as the pure fountains 
in these hills will always send out sweet waters. 

May such be the history of this church in the future 
as it has been in the past, — conquering the evil about it in 
the name of Him who sanctified Himself in order to sanctify 
others. 




The First House of Worship 
Dedicated November n, 1828 



The Young People's Association of the 
Congregational Society 



A Sketch Written by Mrs. W. W. Butler for its 
20TH Anniversary, 1889, and Read by W. W. 
Butler at Our 75TH Anniversary. 

This association was formed nearly twenty-one years 
ago under the pastorship of Dr. Washington Gladden. The 
causes which led to the formation of such an association, 
it seems to me, are best represented by the words of one of 
its first members, who has said that the main factor in 
calling the young people together was " that the young 
people thought that the best things in their lives belonged 
to the church and that their best efforts should be directed 
toward the support of the church." 

The object of the association was to promote the re- 
ligious, mental and social welfare of its members. The 
permanent officers consisted of president, vice-president, 
secretary and treasurer, all of whom, with an executive 
committee of four, constituted a board of control which 
subject to the supervision and approval of the association, 
directed all its affairs. 

The executive committee consisted of the chairmen 
of the religious, literary, music and social committees. The 
chairman of each committee was requested to have not less 
than two or more than four assistants. Any person hav- 



42 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

ing attained the age of fourteen could become a member of 
the association. 

In its early life meetings of a social nature were held 
every two weeks, and to show the character of these meet- 
ings I will give the program of one : — 

Chapel, May 20, 1873. 

Meeting opened by prayer, after which came 

Piano duet, 

Recitations, 

Reading from "Our Paper," 

Singing, 

Intermission of half an hour for social, 

Singing, 

Recitations, 

Reading from " Our Paper," 

Piano, 

Dialogue. 

In addition to this, you will notice later on that the 
association assisted the pastor very much in religious work 
in the way of helping along the young people's prayer 
meeting and in assisting in the neighborhood prayer 
meetings. 

There was a general co-operation of talents, and all 
seemed willing to do their utmost to aid in the work which 
the society was carrying on. In the course of two or three 
years the society was in a very nourishing condition, hav- 
ing largely increased its membership, thus the society 
proved to be of much help not only to the church but also 
to the community. 

The 20th anniversary of the Y. P. A was celebrated, a 
full account of which appeared in the Transcript under 
date of September 12, 1889, at which time Dr. Gladden 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 43 

wrote: "You have my hearty congratulations upon the 
continued life and fruitfulness of the Y. P. A. I have 
heard from it often in the past twenty years ; I believe it 
has always been a bond of union and a source of strength 
in the dear old church. Its hold upon life is much firmer 
now than it was twenty years ago. A society that has 
lived and thriven twenty years has established its right to 
live and has confirmed its hold upon life. I am sure 
that you are much more hopeful of celebrating your hun- 
dredth anniversary than you were in 1869 of celebrating 
your twentieth. I hope that you will live as long as the 
church lives, and that the church will live into and through 
the millennium. One reason of the success and permanence 
of this organization is the simplicity and directness of its 
methods. In both of the churches in which I have served 
since I left you we have copied the organization. Last 
evening the Y. P. A. of the First Congregational church, 
Columbus, held its first business meeting for the autumn, 
and its plan of work is exactly the same as yours. I hope 
it will live as long and do as good work." 

Rev. Dr. Pratt wrote : — "When I received the request to 
'write a word' for the occasion I was in the plight of the 
man whose eager boy came running to him one day — as 
was his wont — with, 'Oh, papa, I want to put some ques- 
tions to you before you go,' and then being restricted to 
two because his father was in a hurry and could wait 'only 
a second' — propounded these two to be answered in that 
second: 'How did Christ do the miracles?' and 'How do 
they make condensed milk.' I write 'a word' about the 
Y. P. A.? No, if you had asked me to write two or three 
volumes about it, or to write the history of all my stay in 
North Adams, that would have been somewhat in harmony 



44 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

with the theme. That live, active, ever-growing association, 
that gathered around me so soon after I fairly got at home 
there; that filled the parsonage Monday evenings in the 
'history class,' or the chapel in their own meetings; that 
went around with me in all the suburbs Tuesday in our 
'neighborhood meetings ; ' that was the open door into the 
church (do you know that over 130 joined the church from 
the association, while I was in North Adams?); that was 
always devising and doing new things, and that was 
the right arm of the church — no, I cannot write 'a word 
about it.' 

"I have given to several classes of theological students 
the plan of your organization as a kind of model for their 
work when they should become ministers ; and in these 
days of Y. P. S. C. E.'s and C. S. L. C.'s I have formed here 
in my church in Norwich a Y. P. A. instead of any of 
them ; so it is not for lack of reminders or interest that I 
feel incapable of writing 'a word.' '" 

Dr. Munger wrote : — "An institution that can observe 
a twentieth anniversary certainly must have some force in 
it. These twenty years are a guaranty for the future. Your 
youth-hood is nearly past, and your youthful haltings and 
stumblings will trouble you no longer. You are now ready 
for full and large action. I fully believe in such guilds as 
yours within the church ; they are necessary to the idea of 
a church. Without them there is great danger lest the 
church will become an affair of mere preaching and hear- 
ing, sermon and song, and fail to be an aggressive, work- 
ing force." 

From these extracts taken from letters of former 
pastors you have a better idea of the life and usefulness of 
our association than anything I can say. The mode of 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 45 

work is now quite different from that when the association 
was first organized. In place of meeting every two weeks 
a plan of work for the season is agreed upon and presented 
to the association at its regular meeting in September. In 
addition to the regular planned work, socials are from 
time to time arranged for. 

During the season of 1888 and 1889 a class in the study 
of art was conducted by Mrs. John Bracewell and a class 
in current events or "How to read the newspapers intelli- 
gently" conducted by Mrs. W. W. Butler. Each class clos- 
ing its season's work by giving an entertainment in the 
direct line in which it had been studying. 

The past year a series of musicals have been given, the 
art class continued under the direction of Miss Mary R. 
Cady ; a company of cadets formed ; two rooms in the chapel 
have been furnished and provided with the best literature. 

The aim of this association has been to do earnest work 
in all the lines indicated by its by-laws or constitution, and 
above all to give loyal support to its pastor, and we trust 
that a beginning of work has been made, the usefulness of 
which will increase year by year. 







Present Church, Erected in 1863-4 



The Young People's Society of Christian 
Endeavor. 



[William Ritchie, President.] 

On Sunday evening, October 22, 1893, at the call of 
Dr. Coyle, the young people of the church met and re- 
solved to form an Endeavor Society, to take the place of 
the defunct " Young People's Association." Mr. T. K. 
Ladd was elected president, and till the close of the year 
the new society busied itself getting acquainted with the 
working methods of the organization. 

On January 25, 1894, the society definitely organized, 
electing Mr. F. J. Barber as president, and assigning all 
the members to duty on the various committees ; the soci- 
ety was also elected about this time to membership in the 
Greylock Union of Christian Endeavor Societies. The 
constitution of the society up till 1901 called for the elec- 
tion of officers and committees every six months, and as 
there was a decided disposition on the part of the members 
to change the officers at every election, and especially the 
chief officer — the president — it consequently follows that 
the society has been served by no fewer than twelve presi- 
dents, this number, strangely enough, corresponding to the 
number of pastors the church has had since its organiza- 
tion in 1827. 

In the latter half of 1894 Miss Annie Rawlinson was 
president. During this period the prayer meeting was 



48 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

held at the close of the Sunday evening preaching service. 
Records appear which show the society to have furnished 
a scholarship in Colorado College. 

Mr. Andrew Cleghorn succeeded Miss Rawlinson as 
president, beginning the year in 1895. Dr. Coyle had at 
this time resigned from the pastorate of our church, leav- 
ing behind him the sweet fragrance of a consecrated man- 
hood as the inspiring heritage of the young society, under 
whose fostering hand it had evolved into being. Alas ! 
how sad the record that meets our gaze under the date, 
February 2, 1895 — a special meeting of the society to draw 
up resolutions on the death of Dr. Coyle. 

The first valiant member of our beloved communion 
had passed to his reward, in the very flower and vigor of 
his chastened manhood and usefulness, and the hearts of 
those he had so tenderly led were pierced with bitter sor- 
rows, as affectionately they sought to convey to his loved 
ones their profoundest sympathy and prayers in the hour 
of their deepest need. What indescribable pathos is im- 
parted to this record as we reflect on the circumstance that 
F. J. Barber, the chairman of this committee on resolu- 
tions, should himself be the next brother of our society to 
follow Dr. Coyle. 

In 1895 the society sent its first delegate to the Boston 
International Christian Endeavor Convention, who brought 
back an inspiring report regarding the advance of Chris- 
tian Endeavor methods and ideas, as gleaned from the 
speeches of the great leaders of the movement From July 
to December, 1895, Mr. E. A. Bond was president, in which 
period various improvements in the working methods of 
the society took place, which tended to augment the mem- 
bership and render more helpful the influence of the organ- 
ization upon the church as a whole. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 49 

The year 1896 opened with Mr. R. L. Chase as presi- 
dent. While the society had been contributing from the 
first to various worthy objects, with the advent of Mr. 
Chase to the office of president a new emphasis was laid 
upon the importance of " giving " as a Christian duty, by 
the adoption of what is known as the two-cent a week plan, 
whereby each member pledged themselves that amount for 
the support of home and foreign missions ; and thus was 
awakened a practical zeal and enthusiasm for the extension 
of God's kingdom. The constitution and by-laws were also 
revised and amended during Mr. Chase's administration? 
all of which work, admirably planned and executed, made 
the task of administering the affairs of the society con- 
siderably less irksome and difficult for Mr. Chase's imme- 
diate successors in office. 

Miss Julia I. Bates was president following Mr. Chase, 
and during her term of office the first removal by death 
took place of a sister of our society in the person of Miss 
Agnes Hutton. Miss Josephine Fuller was our next pres- 
ident. The chief mark of progress recorded during her 
occupancy of the office was the inauguration of the beauti- 
ful and gracious custom by which the society, through its 
flower committee, sent regularly on the first of each month 
a bouquet of flowers to each patient in our city hospital. 

Mr. C. F. Potter was president succeeding Miss Fuller. 
The society adopted during this period the present system 
of monthly collections at the consecration meeting. 

Miss Annie S. Coyle held the office of president in the 
opening months of 1898; being compelled, however, to 
leave town during her term of office, she resigned from the 
presidency and was succeeded by Mr. B. A. Bond. On 
January 21 of this year the death is recorded of Mrs. Minnie 



50 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Hocoinb, a member of the society, and fitting testimony 
was borne to her Christian character. Mr. E. A. Bond con- 
tinued as president till the close of 1899. This period was 
marked by many interesting events in the society's history, 
Mr. Bond exerting himself unremittingly in his desire to 
promote the best interests of the society. Through his 
influence many of the best young men from Williams Col- 
lege were frequently heard at our prayer meetings, and 
zeal in the cause was stimulated. Perhaps the crowning 
triumph of Mr. Bond's leadership was the consummate skill 
with which he planned for the Berkshire County conven- 
tion, which took place at North Adams on September 4 
(Labor Day), 1899. Brilliant speaking and large audiences, 
combined with ideal weather, made the event one to be 
remembered in the annals of our local society. 

On Mr. Bond demitting office he was succeeded by 
Mrs. L. O. Whitman, who maintained during the year 1900 
the high standard of leadership set by her predecessor as 
president. A change in the by-laws prior to the annual 
meeting of 1901 called for the election of officers for the 
term of one year instead of six months, as formerly. 

Mr. William Ritchie was elected the first president 
under the new law, entering upon the duties of the office 
in January 1901. In some respects the year 1901 might 
be called the most eventful in the history of our local 
society. North Adams had furnished several presidents of 
the Greylock Union, and it just happened that the vice-presi- 
dent of our society, Supt. I. Freeman Hall, had the distinc- 
tion of holding that office during the year 1901. A state 
convention had to take place in Massachusetts, and for 
months the question was before us as a society as to 
whether we would be able to cope with such a formidable 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 51 

undertaking as providing for the spiritual and physical 
wants of the army of Endeavorers the convention would 
call together — should the executive committee name North 
Adams as a place of meeting. Mr. Hall was the moving 
spirit in fortifying our minds and wills to the arduous 
task. Committees were formed and all the machinery put 
in action to meet every exigency. 

North Adams was named as the place of meeting. The 
success of the convention is a matter of such recent history 
as to require no recapitulation here. Protestants of every 
denomination vied with each other in extending the hos- 
pitality of a Christian welcome to the scores of Endeavorers 
who attended the convention. Nor must the banquet given 
by the society to the pastors of the city and all others who 
co-operated in the work of the committees to make the 
convention a success, pass without observation. It was a 
unique gathering when every protestant pastor in a city of 
25,000 inhabitants gathered together with the flower of 
their church workers to indulge in happy and felicitous 
intercourse around the festive board, and incidently show 
to the world the realized vision of Interdenominational 
fellowship and good-will founded upon an intelligent ap- 
preciation and interpretation of the mind of our common 
Master, Jesus Christ. 

We have sought thus far to present what seems to us 
the salient points of interest in the history of our organ- 
ization. The limitations of space alone render it impossible 
to enumerate the names of many of the most faithful and 
efficient workers in the interests of Christian Endeavor 
through the committees of our society ; nevertheless they 
may rest assured that their labors have not passed unappre- 
ciated by those cognizant of their good works. It will not 



52 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

be considered invidious however if the fact is noted that 
Miss Susie Cleghorn has served as corresponding secretary 
since the society was organized and Mr. Edwin Barnard for 
the major part of the time has acted as treasurer. Mrs. F. 
J. Barber and Willie Taylor, former members of the society, 
both died during the past year which makes the total num- 
ber of removals by death five. The present membership is, 
active members 60, associate 4, honorary 26. The prospect 
for the future is bright as day if each member reasserts 
their determination (trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for 
strength) to consecrate themselves anew to Christ and the 
Church. 




1894-REv. William L. Texxey- 



Review of History of the First Congrega- 
tional Church, North Adams 



WiivUAM Iy. Tenney, Pastor of the Church Since 
September, 1895* 

The history of the North Adams Congregational 
church is radically different from that of the typical New 
England church. The early history of the establishment 
of Plymouth, of Salem and of Boston was the history of 
the establishment of their respective churches. The early 
church had no struggles which were distinct from those of 
its vicinage, for the community was the church and the 
church the community. One of the most reliable sources 
of our early New England history is the church record. 

As colonies swarmed from the earlier settlements, and 
Springfield, Greenfield, Deerfield and Pittsfield were set- 
tled, the same rule prevailed ; and in spite of the appar- 
ently complete break of our fathers with the state church 
of England, we Congregationalists are the one denomina- 
tion in Massachusetts in which individual churches, by 
virtue of their origin and history, have the right, which 
they still maintain, to the title of the First Church of 
Pittsfield, or the First Church of Springfield, without a 
sectarian prefix. 

*Note — The form which this historical reviewwill take is shaped somewhat 
by the fact that detailed narratives of different periods of our church's history, 
of different movements inaugurated by the church, as well as sketches of the 
lives of its members will be given by others. This accounts for the omissions. 



54 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

The first church of the town of Adams was estab- 
lished in this natural way. The original proprietors of 
the town, Nathan Jones, Col. Elisha Jones and John Mur- 
ray, Esq., employed a surveyor in October, 1762, to lay 
out 48 settling lots of 100 acres each. In 1766 Israel 
Jones, Esq., one of the earliest settlers, was authorized to 
survey a further number of lots, not exceeding 20 of 100 
acres each, and as agent of the proprietors to admit set- 
tlers to the number of 60. This number was mentioned 
because the conditions of settlement fixed by vote of the 
general court required the settlers when their number 
amounted to 60 to build a meeting-house and settle a 
learned Protestant minister.* 

It is probable then that shortly after 1766 a meeting 
house was built for the First Church of Adams. Tradition 
tells us that it was made of logs and stood near the corner 
of the first cross road between our own North Village and 
the so-called South Village of Adams. The present town 
farm of North Adams includes the minister's lot, which 
was set aside for the Rev. Samuel Todd, the first and only 
minister of this First Church of Adams who fulfilled the 
requirement of the general court, of being a "learned pro- 
testant minister," having graduated from Yale College in 
1734 at the early age of 15. f 

* Yeomans' History of Adams, page 428, in the "History of the County of 
Berkshire, Mass., by Gentlemen in the County, Clergymen and Laymen," Pitts- 
field, 1829. 

t Samuel Todd was born in North Haven, Ct, in 1719- After his gradu- 
ation from Yale he was settled at the age of twenty in the ministry of Northbury, 
in Woodbury, Pittsfield County, Ct. From Northbury he removed to Lanes- 
boro and was dismissed from Lanesboro to Adams in the fall of 1766. After 
his dismission from the Adams church he was commissioned Justice of the 
Peace. He removed from Adams to Northfield and thence to Orford, Grafton 
County, N. H;, where he was received into the church with his wife June 4, 1782. 
Mr. Yeomans records of him that he preached occasionally to that congregation, 
and the elderly inhabitants of the town who knew him highly commend his 
character and talent. (See Yeomans' History of Adams.) 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 55 

Of Mr. Todd Mr. Yeomans says : "He possessed a mind 
of more than ordinary strength, and great decision of char- 
acter. His religious sentiments and feelings were strictly 
evangelical. The revivals of 1740 he warmly approved and 
exerted himself to promote them." Such being his char- 
acter Mr. Todd may have dreamed that in the manner of 
most of the ministers of his day his settlement was to be 
for life, but the early conditions in what was then East 
Hoosick were unfavorable for the building up of a typical 
New England church and community. The earliest settlers 
were apparently disappointed in their choice of a home. 
The valley was unhealthful ; floods were frequent ; the earli- 
est industrial plants were washed away ; the malaria was no 
foe with whom to dally when relief could be found upon the 
hills. So one by one most of the worshipers in the First 
Church of Adams either returned to their earlier homes or 
sought the healthier altitudes of Heath, of Rowe and of 
Savoy, where flourishing churches were established. The 
unsettled condition of the community may also be partially 
attributed to the disorders incident to the coming on of the 
Revolution. The church was finally closed for lack of wor- 
shipers. Though invited at the encorporation of the 
town in 1778 to give up the minister's lot, Parson Todd 
still retained the title to it, but as we ride by it we can hard- 
ly deem his act one of avarice. 

The places of the early settlers were taken by Quakers 
and Baptists from Rhode Island. In the South Village for 
years the Quaker meeting house was the one place of 
worship. 

For almost thirty years the North Village of Adams was 
without a meeting house or church organization. Finally, 
in 1782, the scanty remnant of the defunct Congregational 



56 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

church and others in the North Village, set up and covered a 
frame work on the spot where now stands the residence of 
our first mayor, Hon. A. C. Houghton. For twelve years, 
however, this building remained incomplete. Men were 
generally rather indifferent religiously throughout the 
country in the days following the Revolution. It was a 
time when the majority of the students in our colleges 
were unbelievers. Revivals were unknown. If traditions 
are to be trusted, the general religious apathy which char- 
acterized the country at large was intensified among the 
dwellers in the North Village of Adams. 

But a new day dawned. The revival wave swept over 
the country. The residents of the North Village felt its 
influence. As the result the unfinished meeting house 
was moved by men and oxen along Church street to the 
spot where now stands the Baptist church, was there com- 
pleted and devoted to the cause of religion, regardless of 
sect. 

This experience is unique among the stories of the 
beginnings of our New England towns. The few scat- 
tered dwellers in the North Village by their act declared 
that they were more interested in religion than denom- 
inationalism. Am I wrong in saying that our com- 
munity still reveals the impress of this act and that 
mere denominationalism stands for less with us than it 
does in most communities, while vital Christianity is rated 
higher ? 

The revival movement so general throughout the 
country during the early days of the century, which bore 
fruit in the conference under the historic haystack at Wil- 
liams, was felt in North Adams as an evangelist by the 
name of Dyer Stark conducted services in the town meet- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 57 

ing house. Many of the villagers were awakened from 
their lethargy. The evangelist was a Baptist. It is prob- 
able that most of the new comers were also Baptists. As a 
result, in 1808 a Baptist church was organized which, by 
general consent, occupied and held control of the meeting 
house and property which has been devoted to the unsec- 
tarian service of God. The work was of a somewhat 
sporadic character, however. By the time of the organiza- 
tion of the Congregational church, 31 members of the 
Baptist church had been disciplined, and when our own 
church was organized there was no settled minister either 
over the Baptist church or the Methodist church which 
had been organized in 1823. 

With our modern views of church comity, there would 
seem to be a question whether in a community of less than 
a thousand inhabitants a sufficient justification was to be 
found for the establishment of a third church. As we put 
ourselves in the place of the fathers, however, we find that 
the situation assumes a different aspect. It seemed as 
necessary for the men and women in the community who 
belonged to the old Pilgrim and Puritan stock to conduct 
their worship in the democratic way of the fathers as it did 
for them to maintain the town meeting. For this reason 
the old and well established church at Williamstown, 
which for years was the largest Congregational church in 
Berkshire, included in its membership most of the dwellers 
in the North Village of Adams whose political and religi- 
ous ideas bore the old New England imprint. 

It can readily be seen, however, that this condition 
was far from satisfactory. The roads between the 
North Village and Williamstown were often almost impas- 



58 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

sable. It was necessary to ford the river in a number of 
places, and at high water this was impracticable. 

The missionary spirit which led Williams college men 
to look upon the world as their field never led them under 
either the leadership of Dr. Griffin or Mark Hopkins to 
neglect their responsibility for that part of the world which 
was at their very doors. 

As an expression of this spirit of missionary enter- 
prise which looked upon any accessible part of the world 
as a field for labor, Tutor John W. Yeomans, a son of the 
old church in Hinsdale, a classmate of Mark Hopkins, 
ranking second in the class in which his distinguished 
friend was first, for a period of several years conducted 
religious services in the school-house standing at the 
corner of Church and Eagle streets, on the spot now occu- 
pied by the Baptist chapel. As a little band of believers 
is brought together under Mr. Yeoman's leadership in the 
hamlet, which by reason of its isolated position can appar- 
ently hope to be nothing else than a hamlet, and a number 
of the younger people express the desire of confessing 
Christ, the thought naturally arises, fostered by the unsel- 
fish purpose of their leader, why should not we who dwell 
in this town of Adams maintain a church in the manner 
of the other towns in our commonwealth in which the 
church of our fathers is so indissolubly connected with 
the life, liberty and history of Massachusetts men as to be 
recognized as a part of the state establishment ? 

Many were the obstacles in the way of the fruition of 
this hope. It was too much to expect that our Baptist 
friends should forget that our Puritan fathers had availed 
themselves of Solomon's advice and had faithfully used 
the rod upon them in their youth. Of course they could 




Deacon Daniel P. Merriam 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 59 

not welcome us. It is to be wondered that they did not 
do more to discourage us. It was also true that the masses 
in Berkshire were out of sympathy with the established 
Congregational church. Many of our ministers were 
looked upon as aristocrats, who had been in sympathy 
with the oppressor during the stirring days of Shay's re- 
bellion. 

Tradition also tells us that there was fear among the 
many who were connected with no church that the estab- 
lishment of a Congregational church meant their taxation 
for its support, in accordance with the law and general 
usage of the commonwealth in other communities. 

The few who were willing to enter such a church 
were also unable to meet the financial obligations involved 
in such a step. The records show that the money raised 
during the early days rarely exceeded in amount the 
sums which the people in humblest circumstances pledge 
today, and to organize a church meant not only that the 
yearly expenses of such a church must be met, but that 
land must be purchased and a building erected. 

Can we wonder then that good President Griffin chose 
as his text for his sermon at the organization of the church, 
"By whom shall Jacob rise, for he is small." We must 
say without any reserve that the honor involved in the 
organization of the Congregational church of North Adams 
belongs to John W. Yeomans, whose strong faith and un- 
swerving purpose knew no obstacles which could not be 
surmounted. At his instigation the council was called, 
which met upon a stormy day, the 19th of April, 1827, at 
the home of Daniel P. Merriam, then standing not far from 
Main street on what is now Marshall street. The main 
part of this house is still standing but moved back from the 



60 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

street, and connected as it is with a saloon, we cannot but la- 
ment that years ago it was not saved from desecration by the 
friendly aid of the fiery elements. Delegates were present 
at this council from Williamstown, Windsor, Lanesboro, 
Pittsfield, Lee and Bennington. President Griffin of Wil- 
liams college was chosen moderator and Rev. R. W. Grid- 
ley, pastor of the church in Williamstown, scribe. The 
council having been organized voted first that, "The way 
is prepared to organize a Congregational Church of Christ 
in North Adams," and second that "The persons elected as 
deacons be ordained by prayer and the imposing of hands." 
The council then went to the Baptist meeting house, the 
wooden building now back of the Baptist church, for whose 
erection, as we have seen, the Congregationalists themselves 
were partly responsible, and there, "In the presence of an 
attentive and solemn congregation the church was organ- 
ized," consisting of seventeen members who brought their 
letters from the parent church in Williamstown, and five 
who united on profession of their faith as the result of the 
good work which tutor Yeomans had carried on in the 
village. Of these twenty-two charter members of our 
church, seven were men and fifteen women. Truly this 
tree of the Lord's planting was but insignificant, yet ele- 
ments of strength entered into it through its historic asso- 
ciations which while not appearing upon the surface were 
prophetic of better days. In the person of Israel Jones» 
then eighty-nine years old, the church was firmly rooted to 
the earliest history of the town, for Israel Jones was one of 
the original settlers of the town, and as civil engineer had 
laid out its roads and surveyed its lots. He was connected 
with the original church of Adams and had married the 
daughter of its pastor, the Rev. Samuel Todd. Thus look- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 61 

ed at, from one standpoint, the presence of Israel Jones in 
the church brought it more nearly into touch with other 
churches of our order which came into existence with their 
towns, and gives us some legitimate claim to the title of 
the First Church of Adams, established in 1766. A wonder- 
ful old man was Israel Jones, careful in his dress, living in 
what seemed to his fellow villagers the luxurious state of 
an English squire, by virtue of his position as Justice of 
the Peace setting himself unflinchingly against any dese- 
cration of the Sabbath. The first representative of the 
town in Boston and a trustee of Williams College, his 
presence among the charter members of the church seemed 
to betoken a blessing transmitted from the heroic, colonial 
days. Israel Jones passed away in his ninety-first year, but 
his vigor is shown from the fact that on the morning of 
the day of his death he had ridden on horseback as far as 
Stamford, and after his return was taking his wonted nap 
before a projected horseback ride to Williamstown, when 
death painlessly came upon him, and waking no more, he 
died full of years, leaving behind him a most honorable 
name. It is to be hoped that one of the trips of this anni- 
versary season will be to the old home of Israel Jones which, 
in modernized form, is now occupied by one of our devoted 
members, Mrs. Eliza Harrison, 781 West Main street. 

Other roots of this church connected it with the church 
of Williamstown which then included the College church 
as well. The charter members had been adequately trained 
in the orderly, dignified and at the same time democratic 
methods which characterized the church of Williamstown. 
that noble representative of an old-time village church, 
Two of those who brought their letters from Williamstown 
were at once chosen deacons. The first deacon was Eli 



62 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Northam, who lived in the house now occupied by one of 
our members, Mr. David Jarvie. Deacon Northam was soon 
compelled to move to South Williamstown, but left behind 
him the memory of a kindly Christian man, who even in 
the midst of financial adversity, did not forfeit the respect 
and confidence of his neighbors. The second deacon, cho- 
sen at the organization of the church, was Artemas Crit- 
tenden, whom we do well to remember and honor, as 
among the first of the men of energy who have compelled 
the dancing waters of the Hoosac to do their will. 

Maria Smith, afterwards Mrs. Gould, was one of 
the youngest of the charter members who united with 
the church upon the confession of her faith, her mother, 
Mrs. Rhoda Bartlet Smith, uniting at the same time. 
We had joined our hope to hers that she might live 
to witness this anniversary season, for many were her 
memories of the earlier days of struggle and great was her 
love and respect for the early pastors. Two years ago Mrs. 
Gould passed away, but we rejoice that five of her descend- 
ants are at the present time members of this church, Mrs. 
Mary Bixby, her daughter, and her grandchildren, Mrs. 
Addie Sanford, Mrs. Alice Parmelee, Mrs. Mary Burbank 
and Miss Grace Gould. So far as I can ascertain, these 
five whose names I have read are the only descendants of 
the charter members of the church who are now with us. 

If we could put ourselves into the position of the 
twenty-two members of the church on the morning after 
the stormy day on which the council of recognition was 
held, it is a question whether we should not find them 
asking the question,— of what avail this solemn council ? 
We own no land ; we have no building ; we have no settled 
minister ; we have no means. It should be said emphatic- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 63 

ally at this time that the little church must in a few months 
or a few years, at best, have passed away had it not been for 
the strong faith and heroic determination of John W. Yeo- 
mans. During the six months following the recognition 
of the church Mr. Yeomans was at work among the members 
of neighboring churches, by subscription papers endeavor- 
ing to raise the money required for a church building and 
property. Subscription papers were also put in the hands 
of several members of the church, but most of the money 
which was needed for the erection of a building was secured 
through his untiring efforts. Enough money was in sight so 
that September 29, 1827, it was possible to elect a committee, 
consisting of Eli Northam, Artemas Crittenden and Daniel 
P. Merriam, to superintend the building of a meeting house. 
The land on which our present church building stands, 
including all the corner as far as the soldier's monument 
and the land now occupied by the wooden buildings at the 
east of the church, was purchased for $400. For a year 
Mr. Yeomans had continued to minister to the little group 
as he had before their organization in the school house. 
So far as any evidence is concerned, his labor during the 
year after the organization of the church, as in the time 
before, was entirely a labor of love, and no recompense was 
given him. As the work of building the church progressed, 
however, a meeting of the church was held March 11, 1828, 
at the house of Israel Jones, and it was voted that, "we 
invite Mr. John W. Yeomans, who is now laboring with us, 
to regard himself as a candidate for settlement and to con- 
tinue with us until we know what arrangements the church 
can make for settling a minister." 

This half-pastoral relationship on the part of Mr. Yeo- 
mans continued until September 5 of the same year, when, 



64 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

at a meeting held at the home of Israel Jones, it was voted 
unanimously "that we invite Mr. J.W.Yeomans to accept the 
pastoral charge of this church, and that we promise to fur- 
nish him $500 annually for his support." When we consider 
the fact that for a year and a half Mr. Yeomans devoted 
himself unstintingly to the service of the church, securing 
some $3,000 for the church building, and that at the end of 
this time only $500 was promised him, with the moral 
certainty that only a part of this could ever be paid, our 
appreciation of the heroism of the first leader of the church 
is deepened when we turn to his letter of acceptance. Of 
this call he says : " I accept it with all my heart. I know, 
however, that I assume an arduous undertaking. The 
station to which the Lord is calling me presents many 
singular and trying responsibilities. The Lord has opened 
the hearts of his people in the neighboring churches to 
assist you ill completing a sanctuary. We are hoping to 
see a church rise up from these small beginnings and un- 
propitious circumstances (and here speaks the true prophet 
of the Lord) to the position of strength and purity of faith. 
Trusting that the Lord is with us, I cheerfully devote my- 
self with you to attain the great object of your exertions." 
At last the little brick meeting house, which Deacon 
Hunter will describe, was completed, and on the eleventh 
of November a council met in the morning at the old brick 
tavern, then occupied by Nathaniel W T aterman, a member 
of the congregation, and installed Mr. Yeomans as pastor 
of the church. The famous theologian, Samuel Shepard, 
of Lenox, was moderator. Part was taken in the council 
by David Dudley Field, the illustrious father of so many 
distinguished sons. The sermon was preached by the 
pastor of the Presbyterian church in Bennington, Vt. Rev. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 65 

Bbenezer Jennings, of Dalton, of whose tendencies to ex- 
aggerate and make puns tradition has so much to say, gave 
the charge to the people. In the afternoon of this day, at 
two o'clock, the house of worship was dedicated in the 
words of the record, " to God, Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost," and the sermon was preached by the pastor and 
founder. 

Our church at this time, equipped as it was with a brick 
building, occupied a more conspicuous position in the 
community than it did in the county at large. I find that at 
the end of this year it was still the smallest Congregational 
church in Berkshire, with a membership of only twenty- 
eight and a Sunday school of sixty. The parent church of 
Williamstown had then a membership of 426. The church 
now struggling for existence at Windsor then had a mem- 
bership of 114 with a Sunday school of 130. The church at 
Peru, nearer the heavens then and now than any other 
church in the state, had a membership of no. The church 
at Becket, which now has a membership of barely thirty, 
then had a membership of 194; the church at Otis a mem- 
bership of 130 ; the church at Pittsfield a membership of 
563. For a number of years this church has had the largest 
membership of any church of our order in Berkshire, but if 
we are ever tempted to be proud let us remember the time 
when the churches in the hill towns out of their superior 
numerical, material and spiritual strength contributed to 
help us on our way. The erection of a meeting house by 
no means solved the problem, however, of the welfare of 
the North Adams church. Manufacturing was not as yet 
established upon a stable basis, and frequent failures led to 
almost constant changes in the scanty population. The 
church finds increasing difficulty in paying its pastor his 



66 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

salary, in spite of the aid given by the Berkshire and 
Massachusetts missionary societies. On November 3, 1829, 
money was borrowed from the trustees of Williams college 
to meet the debt then resting on the church. The original 
of the mortgage given Williams college is now in the 
church safe. That the times did not grow better is evident 
from the fact that we find the college compelled to threaten 
foreclosure. Nevertheless, the faithful pastor does not yield 
to discouragement. On December 2, 1829, ^ was voted 
that the church hold a prayer meeting weekly, on Wednes- 
day afternoon at two o'clock, and that the hour between 
six and seven o'clock Wednesday morning be set aside for 
prayer in our closets and families for the effusion of the 
Holy Spirit upon us. A little later it was voted, for the 
sake of better accommodation, to hold weekly prayer meet- 
ings Wednesday evenings at the home of D. P. Merriam. 
February 28, 1830, the ensuing Friday was set apart for 
fasting and prayer for the influences of the Holy Spirit 
upon the church and the congregation. Again it was voted 
to raise money and procure the tract entitled " The Sanc- 
tuary," for distribution in the community during the 
month of September. 

It will be seen from this record that the church in 
North Adams was at its very beginning radically in favor 
of what were then termed "new measures." The freedom 
and responsibility of the individual member of the church 
was emphasized in a way the older theologians then be- 
lieved to be unscriptural and undignified. It was believed 
that the Holy Spirit was given to God's children in response 
to their earnest desire and completer consecration. The 
early church of North Adams was not alone, however, a 
church which emphasized fasting and prayer. It assumed 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 67 

what for the times was a most radical position on the great 
question of temperance reform then coming to the front. 
It was voted on December 2, 1829, that "we consider our- 
selves bound by the spirit of the gospel to refrain en- 
tirely from the use of ardent spirits in every case except 
when recommended as a medicine by the physician ; and 
to do all that earnest persuasion and example can do to 
suppress the use of intoxicating liquors in the community."' 
Following this step of the church, we gladly recall the fact 
that there was a period in the history of our community 
when no liquor was sold within our midst, and the leading 
inn was conducted upon a temperance basis. 

The church also took advanced ground for that time 
in emphasizing the importance of Christian nurture, for 
we find it voted in the beginning of the year 1832, "that 
the last Wednesday evening meeting of each month be set 
aside as a meeting of prayer for the children of the church. 
The Pittsfield Athanaeum contains a sermon preached by 
Dr. Yeomans ten years later and printed in The American 
Pulpit upon the training of children, in which he shows 
that he is in sympathy with a part of the thought of Horace 
Bushnell, which when expressed at a later time in Christian 
Nurture brought so much opposition upon him from the 
many who felt that there was no hope for any save in a 
marked experience at conversion. 

In this connection we should notice that Mr. Yeomans 
assumed the care of the Florida church, then composed of 
fifteen members, and on December 25, 1831, these members 
were received into the North Adams church, and services 
were continued in their church on Florida mountain until 
the removal of the majority of the membership, and the 
building up of a Baptist church rendered it inexpedient to 



68 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

longer continue what was known as the Florida branch of 
the North Adams church. 

During the pastorate of Dr. Yeomans the church re- 
ceived into its membership by letter from the church in 
Rowe Dr. E. S. Hawkes, who for years found time in the 
midst of his busy practice as the leading physician of the 
community, to work for the church, not only in the way 
of valued material assistance but by the espousal of the 
highest moral and spiritual standards. The work of the 
first five pastors of this church could not have been what 
it was had it not been for the assistance of this best type 
of the Puritan, Christian physician and gentleman. 

Among the other members received into the church 
during this pastorate was Eli Gould, a deacon in the church 
of Heath, from which he brought his letter. He was a 
veteran of the Revolutionary war, who could not kneel 
with his family in prayer, because of a wound received in 
his early battling for liberty. His son, Willard Gould, 
also united with the church at about the same time and 
was soon chosen deacon. The influence of heredity is seen 
as we turn to our own Deacon Chase, the grandson and 
greatgrandson of these two deacons, who thus connect him 
with the early struggles of both his country and his church. 

One hundred and eleven members were received into 
the church during the pastorate of Mr. Yeomans, a remark- 
able record when we consider the constant financial strug- 
gle which the pastor and people were compelled to undergo. 
The time came, however, when Mr. Yeomans on account 
of his growing family found it impossible longer to con- 
tinue his labors. In his letter of resignation he gives as 
his one reason the impossibility of supporting his family 
and at the same time performing the duties of a faithful 




1832-DEACON WlLLARD GOULD-184J 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 69 

pastor in this place. A council dismissed him on the 16th 
of February, 1832, and he accepted the call which had 
been given him by the strong First church of Pittsfield. 
Mr. Yeomans had two sons born in North Adams, both of 
whom grew up to be ministers of influential standing in 
the Presbyterian church, and have both passed away. A 
third son, born shortly after leaving North Adams, was a 
physician in Philadelphia, and died a few years ago. The 
oldest of his sons is a minister of the Presbyterian church, 
now settled in Washingtonville, Orange county, N. Y. Of 
Dr. Yeomans' two daughters only one survives, Mrs. Louisa 
Yeomans Boyd of Harrisburg, Pa., and we count it an honor 
that we are granted the favor of her presence, and that of 
her son, John Yeomans Boyd, who bears the name of our 
founder and first pastor, and was baptized by his 
grandfather at the last communion service at which he 
officiated. Mr. Yeomans remained three years in Pittsfield 
and then accepted a call to the First Presbyterian church 
at Trenton, N. J. In 1841 he was called to the presidency 
of Lafayette college, Pa., but returned in 1845 to the pas- 
torate, taking charge of the Wahoming Presbyterian 
church, Danville, Pa., where he passed away June 22, 
1863. The determination and faith which he showed dur- 
ing the discouraging days of his first pastorate were indeed 
prophetic of his subsequent distinguished and useful career. 
Of those who united with the church during the first pas- 
torate, so far as we know, only one is living, Miss Martha 
Streeter of Charlemont, who was received into membership 
in 1831. 

During the few months in which the church was 
without a pastor, a call was extended to the Rev. Mr. 
White of Ashfield to settle on " an annuity of $500, house 



70 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

rent and firewood provided in addition," but as at the same 
time we find a special effort made to raise money for the 
church materialized in but $27.60 as the result of the con- 
tributions of twenty-three persons, only two of whom, J. 
Q. Robinson and Dr. Hawkes, were able to give $3, we 
judge that Mr. White had doubt as to the certainty of any 
part of his salary but the firewood, which he undoubtedly 
could cut for himself. 

On the eleventh of June, 1832, Deacons Bailey, Gould, 
and Dr. Hawkes were appointed a committee to confer with 
the Rev. Caleb Branch Tracy and make out a call. With 
two members of the Florida branch of the church, the com- 
mittee agreed to give Mr. Tracy a salary of $500, he prom- 
ising to return $50 the first year on the debt, and after that 
"as much as he judges he can spare out of his salary." A 
number of the earlier members of the church will remember 
the genial presence of Mr. Tracy at the fiftieth anniversary 
of the church in 1877. It is quite probable that Mr. Tracy 
was brought to the attention of the church by his class- 
mate, Prof. Albert Hopkins, who rendered this church in 
its early days the same moral and spiritual uplift which in 
later days has made his name blessed in the White Oaks 
valley. Mr. Tracy was one of the pioneers whose names 
are never widely known but who render many times a more 
fundamental service in the building up of the Kingdom 
than do their brethren who occupy a more conspicuous 
position. He was a native of New Marlboro, in this county, 
was born July n, 1799. He graduated from the old 
academy at Stockbridge and from Williams college in 1826, 
and Andover theological seminary in 1829. He was or- 
dained at Colebrook, Ct., March 10, 1830. Before coming 
to North Adams he was acting pastor in Canaan, N. Y. ; 




Elihu vS. Hawkes, M. I). 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 71 

Troy, N. Y. ; and Glens Falls from 1830 to July io, 1832. 
At the time of his coming to North Adams then he was a 
Presbyterian minister and retained his membership in the 
Troy presbytery during his pastorate here. In this connec- 
tion, as so many of the church, from almost the earliest 
years, have come to it from the Presbyterian church we 
notice with interest that of our twelve installed ministers, 
seven have either come from or gone to Presbyterian 
churches. 

At the council which installed Mr. Tracy, David 
Dudley Field was the moderator, and the sermon was 
preached by a brother of the pastor. The peculiar difficul- 
ties of the work can be seen as we discover that of the 22 
charter members who united with the church April 19, 
1827, on ly I2 were connected with the church at the begin- 
ning of the pastorate of Mr. Tracy. Of the 111 members 
who came into the church during the pastorate of 
Mr. Yeomans only 68 were actively connected with the 
church when Mr. Tracy undertook his labors. The old 
debt was a constant menace, for Mr. Tracy could not be 
expected to do a great deal in the way of lightening it by 
the payment of $50 the first year and what he could afford 
subsequently, so long as his own salary was paid so 
haltingly. 

The church however continued to make progress along 
the lines of its early development. December 8, 1833, it 
was voted unanimously to alter the Covenant so that it 
should read "You desire and by the aid of Divine grace you 
promise to walk in all the statutes and ordinances of the 
Lord, etc. — to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits 
except as a medicine, and to honor your high calling," etc. 
This temperance pledge in the Covenant was retained until 



72 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

the revision of the Creed and Covenant during the pastorate 
of Mr. Gladden. It is an honorable fact also in the history 
of the church that in this time when the abolition move- 
ment was in its very infancy, colored members were re- 
ceived into the church, for we find in the year 1835 that 
three negroes are entered upon the church roll, and that 
they were not neglected was made evident from the fact 
that on the subsequent year a committee was appointed to 
confer with "certain rum drinking brethren" and secure 
from them a promise of amendment, and among these rum- 
drinking brethren were two of the colored members. 

One member of the church is still with us who united 
under the pastorate of Mr. Tracy, Mrs. Caroline Arnold 
LilHe, who united March 3, 1833, over sixty-nine years ago. 
It has given the pastor great happiness to conduct a cottage 
prayer meeting at the home of Mrs. Lillie within the last 
year. By a record of meeting of the church held February 
6, 1834, we judge that one reason for the short term of most 
of Mr. Tracy's pastorates was an undue sensitiveness on 
his part, for we find him as church clerk making the record 
that, "after some harsh remarks made in regard to the diffi- 
culties of the church, the pastor requested to be dismissed.' 
The record of the council held for the dismission of Mr. 
Tracy, February 26, 1834, expressed regret that "Mr. Tracy 
misjudged as to the nature and extent of the opposition in 
the church against him, thus hastening his removal from 
a congregation to which his ministry had been acceptable 
and useful." I have already spoken of Mr. Tracy's presence 
at the fiftieth anniversary of the church in 1877. After his 
pastorate in North Adams, he was settled in a number 
of places in New Hampshire and Vermont, and at the time 
of our anniversary was living in Wilmot, N. H. He short- 




1S35RKY. Al.VAH DAV-1836 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 



73 



ly after moved to Andover, N. H., where he passed away 
January, 1881, in the eighty-second year of his age. He 
left no descendants, and it has been impossible as yet to 
procure a picture of him to show in connection with the 
anniversary. 

The continuation of the unsettled condition, which 
meant so much in a small community, is evidenced as we 
notice that at the beginning of the next pastorate only ten 
of the charter members remained, only 59 of the in who 
united under Mr. Yeomans and 54 of the 75 who had first 
come into the church under Mr. Tracy. The pastorate of 
Alvah Day was but brief. March 20, 1835, he accepted the 
call extended to him on behalf of the committee, and was 
installed May 26, 1835. Thirty-two members united with 
the church during the year of service, but Mr. Day's wife 
was English, and, tradition says, was hardly able to enjoy 
life among her New England sisters, and at the end of a 
year, after an unsuccessful attempt to raise a debt of $1,000 
due from the church to several individuals, Mr. Day re- 
signed, giving as his principal reason the suggestive state- 
ment, " I think I might find a field in the vineyard of our 
Lord more favorable to my health and usefulness." No 
man who gave even a year of honest service to this church 
in its early days deserves to be forgotten, and for that 
reason the present pastor has made strenuous efforts to 
ascertain some facts in regard to the previous and subse- 
quent history of Mr. Day. No members of our church are 
now living who united during his pastorate, and for some 
reason Mr. Day seemed to drop out of the knowledge of 
the North Adams church and of the Congregational minis- 
ters in New England. At the time of our fiftieth anni- 
versary it was reported that he was dead. Through the 



74 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

aid of others I have at last ascertained some particulars, 
which I communicate to you in order that he may be to 
you something more than a bare name. He was born in 
Granville, N. Y., January i, 1798. He graduated from 
Middlebury college in 1823, studied theology with the 
father of the late Dr. George Leon Walker of Rutland, 
preached in Hebron, N. Y., seven years before coming 
here, and was afterwards, until 1870, pastor of Presbyterian 
churches in different places in New York, and subsequently 
in Illinois and Iowa. In 1870 he settled in Manchester, 
Iowa, and died there April 21, 1882. The pastor of the 
Congregational church in Manchester, Iowa, Rev. J. W. 
Tuttle, writes to me, " He was highly regarded in this city 
for his sincere piety." He had two sons who rose to dis- 
tinction in the war, one as colonel of the 91st Illinois vol- 
unteers, brevetted brigadier-general, and the other lieuten- 
ant-colonel in the same regiment. He himself also en- 
listed and was chaplain of the regiment of which his two 
sons were in command. A granddaughter is still living in 
Manchester, Iowa, and from her we have received a picture 
of our third pastor, which is loaned us for this anniversary 
occasion. 

Rev. Alvah Day had hardly completed his work with 
the church before the church became acquainted with Rev. 
Ezekiel Russell, who had just graduated from Andover 
theological seminary. Mr. Russell was a native of South 
Wilbraham and a graduate from Amherst college in the 
class of 1829. F° r a Y ear a ^er graduation he was principal 
of Hopkins academy in Hadley and tutor in Amherst col- 
lege, where among his pupils was one student whose after 
life completely discredited the poor idea which Tutor Rus- 
sell formed of him as a student. This pupil was Henry 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 75 

Ward Beecher. Mr. Russell was a man of accurate schol- 
arship, of firm nature, who was willing to go to the stake 
if need be for his conceptions of what was true and right. 
The church had such a high idea of him that they offered 
him a larger salary than had ever been paid before, the 
sum of $800 per year. This fact would indicate that for 
the time the prospects of the community were more hope- 
ful. In accepting the call Mr. Russell agreed to the sug- 
gestion made by the committee which called him and 
promised $100 from his first year's salary for the church 
debt. He had a decided mind of his own, however, and 
this he manifested when he specified that the $100 was only 
to be given the first year. We now for the first time hear 
the subject of a minister's vacation mentioned, and Mr. 
Russell specified that he was to be granted a four or five 
weeks' vacation during the year. He also told the church 
that the labors of preparing sermons for the Sabbath serv- 
ices would be such that he could not agree to preach fun- 
eral sermons. The committee accepted all of his conditions 
except the one as to a vacation, and told him that they 
hoped that he would not leave them " without the means 
of grace " so many Sabbaths in the year. 

The brighter prospect at the beginning of Mr. Rus- 
sell's pastorate was apparently soon over-clouded. The 
growth of the church was much slower than it had been 
and the rate of removal did not decrease. Mr. Russell 
was a believer in law — the law was not alone to be preached, 
but to be enforced. Accordingly we find more cases of dis- 
cipline recorded during the three brief years of his pastor- 
ate than find a place in our records during the other seven- 
ty-two. Undoubtedly his sense of duty led him to be 
loyal to the church standards, in accordance with which 



76 SB VENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

every dereliction of duty on the part of a member must be 
investigated. It may be questioned, however, whether the 
effect upon the church and the community was beneficial. 
And while many of Mr. Russell's successors may ha^ve 
seemed to partially disregard the discipline of the church, 
they have undoubtedly been animated by their endeavor 
to apprehend the spirit of the Savior when He said, " He 
that is without sin, let him cast the first stone," and they 
have permitted the parable of the wheat and the tares, which 
are to grow together until the judgment, to influence them 
somewhat in their enforcement of discipline. 

Mr. Russell, as he said, "accepted the call hesitating- 
ly," and in less than two years endeavored to resign. His 
people resisted his effort, however ; but on the 28th of March, 
1839, he peremptorily resigned to accept a call which had 
been given him from the Second church of Springfield. 
Mr. Russell in later years was asked to preach the sermon 
at the dedication of our present house of worship. At the 
time when he left the church the thought of such enlarge- 
ment as was represented by the new church was furthest 
from his mind. It may be questioned whether he expected 
the church to survive his departure. He said in his letter: 
"In consequence of recent removals from your church, and 
those that are about to occur, there is no certainty that I 
can remain longer than the close of the current year were 
I disposed. There is no certainty that my salary can under 
any circumstances be raised for another year. The salary 
originally stipulated has never been and probably never 
will be paid. You have paid all that I think you are able 
to pay for my support, and all that I can feel that it is right 
to exact in your circumstances, were I to remain with you." 
He added that while he would not enumerate all the reasons 



9b 





1836-REV. EZEKIEL RUSSELL-1839 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 77 

which led to his decision, he would state some of them, 
"such as the shifting of your population, the condition of 
your common schools, the want of interest in the great 
masses of the inhabitants in anything that contributes to a 
permanent and prospective improvement in your intellec- 
tual, moral and religious condition, — the tenure by which 
much of the property in the village is held, the low sectarian- 
ism which exists, and the principles upon which religious in- 
stitutions are based and sustained by many a contributor." 
As one of his reasons of accepting the call which came to 
him from Springfield, he gave the following: "Should I 
settle over that church there will be within four miles of 
me some six or seven clergymen ; the difference in this re- 
spect between my circumstances here and what they would 
be there is obvious. For the year past you are aware that 
I have not for once exchanged a Sabbath with a neighbor- 
ing clergyman. With the single exception of Williams- 
town it is impossible for me to do so unless I ride, or com- 
pel some one else to ride, at least twenty miles." 

A gloomy year apparently was the twelfth year of 
the life of this church. We find that only 32 of the 133 
who were included in the church during the pastorate of 
Mr. Yeomans remained at the close of Dr. Russell's pastor- 
ate. Only 26 of the 75 who united under Mr. Tracy 
five years before remained. Only 12 of the ^ who 
united under Mr. Day three years before remained, and 
only 28 of the 39 who had united under Dr. Russell. 
We can hardly blame the good man for despairing. 
Our beloved Mrs. Potter, who united with the church dur- 
ing his pastorate, bears witness to his faithful and un- 
tiring labors as a pastor. The friendship then formed be- 
tween Dr. Russell and the members of the church was 



78 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

never interrupted, for we find it recorded that sixteen years 
later, when the church had passed through its days of early 
uncertainty as to whether it was to be or not to be, he was 
called again to the pastorate. 

Dr. Russell's third and last pastorate of over twenty 
years was in Holbrook, where the present pastor succeeded 
him and had the pleasure of knowing him and revering in 
him one who was a perfect example of the old time scholar- 
ly, authoritative minister. He died in Lynn, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 26, 1896, in his ninety-first year. He received the 
degree of Doctor of Divinity from Amherst college in 1858. 
Of him his daughter records that he read for mere pleasure, 
up to the time of his last illness, his Latin and Greek daily. 
He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Carrie Russell Coffin, 
of New York city, who proposes to honor the memory of 
her father by presenting his picture to the church. 

In 1840 commenced the longest pastorate of the church, 
that of Rev. Robert Crawford. Mr. Crawford's life story 
will be told by his son in connection with other exercises 
of this anniversary, and the record of his work in North 
Adams, based upon the daily diary which he kept, will 
then be read. 

In this review of our history then, it is only fitting 
that we should briefly consider certain of the important 
facts in our church history which reveal our lasting in- 
debtedness to Mr. Crawford. 

Coming into the church at a time in which his pre- 
decessor had become completely discouraged, Mr. Crawford 
did not for a moment falter in his faith that God called 
him to co-operate with the church in a work which could 
not fail. He set a noble example of self-sacrifice to his 
people and they were infected with the contagion. For 




1846-DEACOx David C. R0GERS-1849 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 79 

years he paid $50 of his salary of $600 into the church 
treasury for the sake of reducing the debt, which had 
been such an incubus from the very beginning. Before 
his coming, when the church was without a pastor, 
James Hunter and his wife were received into membership, 
and the Hunter family from that day to this has been a 
source of strength and wisdom to the church: 

Upon several occasions Mr. Crawford felt that the time 
for his further usefulness had ceased, but the way in which 
his people showed him their affection and their evident 
desire that he should remain with them, led him to renew 
his work with new courage. In the year 1843, a ^ ter having 
cherished such a thought, the church was gladdened by the 
evident outpouring of God's spirit. A larger number were 
received into membership than had been received during 
any previous year. The year 1850, however, well deserves 
to be regarded as one of the brightest years in the history 
of the church. Of the nature of this work it is our privilege 
to hear from those who were blessed through it ; and I will 
first of all read to you words of reminiscence dictated by 
Edwin Rogers, who entered into the membership of the 
church in this eventful year. 

"Altogether the greatest revival of my knowledge came 
to this town in the winter of 1850, remarkable in a number 
of aspects, for its wonderful quiet, for the fact that most of 
the principal business men of North Adams were counted as 
its trophies. On farm and in factory and in the store and at 
home not much else was talked about but of this remarka- 
ble pouring out of the spirit, so called. A remarkable 
thing in connection with this revival was, that so far as- 
the majority of the church knew, nothing had been done. 
But you ask our sainted sister, Mrs. Dr. Babbitt, why just 



80 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

at this particular time such a work should appear, and she 
would tell you that for weeks at her home and in other 
homes prayer meetings had been held almost daily, till is 
seemed as if the blessing must come, and it did. And at 
the meetings progressed, strong men in the state of mind 
called then being 'under conviction,' would go to see their 
minister and say, ' What shall I do to be saved? ' until the 
interest all through this North Village was very deep. 
Every evening the Congregationalists took a step which 
they had never taken before in my life — had an anxious 
seat." It will help us to appreciate the remarkable nature 
of this movement as we let Mr. Rogers tell of his own per- 
sonal relationship to it. He says : 

" I found one day that a number of my friends had 
been meeting each night in prayer for me. This touched 
my heart deeply. I thought if my friends can be concerned 
for me, I should certainly be concerned for myself, and 
this led me to take this important step of my life. I re- 
member, as I went about in those days following my deci- 
sion, how beautiful the whole world seemed to me ; the sun 
shone brighter than ever before and everything was fairer. 
My thoughts went quickly back to the old home at Con- 
way, while I listened at my mother's door and heard her 
pray so earnestly for every boy and girl she had, calling 
them by name, that they might become Christians in youth. 
So I seemed hedged in and took the step which I have 
never regretted." 

The other account of the revival of fifty-two years ago 
is from a former member of this church, Mrs. Maria L. 
Holbrook, now living in DeLand, Fla. She says : 

" In our own church the first indication of unusual in- 
terest had shown itself when the wealthiest, most fashion- 




850-DEAcox Henry Chickering-i856 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 81 

able and most influential woman in the congregation had 
signified her intention of uniting with the church. Of 
course it called forth words of surprise that ' Mrs. Marshall 
is going to unite with the church.' Upon inquiry it was 
learned that she had for weeks been under deep conviction 
of sin, and having decided this question she now wished to 
connect herself with the church. 

" It was also learned that three or four devout Chris- 
tians had been in the habit of meeting together at stated 
hours and praying for this dear woman's conversion, and for 
an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church. Two 
other ladies with Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Frank Robinson and 
Mrs. Robert Robinson, united with the church at the same 
date, and at the next communion Mr. James E. Marshall 
and Mr. Robert Robinson were admitted. From this time 
until the following spring there was a continuous series of 
conversions and additions to the church. We cannot fail 
to note the wonderful sermons preached by the Rev. Chris- 
topher Cushing and Rev. John Chickering, D. D., who as- 
sisted the pastor in this work. 

" I remember a communion during that period when a 
large number had presented themselves for admission to 
the church — among them a woman wasting with con- 
sumption, too feeble to stand, was brought into the church 
in an invalid's chair and with her husband received the 
sacrament of baptism and the communion. The sight of 
this almost dying woman produced a deep impression upon 
the audience, and when the services were about to con- 
clude, the Rev. John Chickering rose in the pulpit and 
made the closing remarks. He told them how much he 
had been impressed with the solemn services. He had 
noted the large crowd in the galleries, the attentive inter- 



82 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

est shown by them. He begged of them to come to 
Christ, and to commence a life of holy living with these 
who today have consecrated themselves to this work. This 
thought, he said, had passed through his mind while sit- 
ting there : ' There will be no galleries in Heaven pre- 
pared for spectators.' " 

As an illustration of Dr. Crawford's hold upon the 
community, I will let Mr. Rogers tell the story of a dona- 
tion party during this period : 

" We seldom failed to give him a donation, and what 
donations they were ! It had been a hard winter for busi- 
ness. Mr. Crawford had become discouraged and thought 
the people didn't want him any longer. I was living 
where the priests live now, on the corner of Union and 
Eagle streets. Mrs. James E. Marshall (a wonderful 
worker in our church) came to our house in muddy March 
— said she wanted to see me and my wife — wanted a dona- 
tion for Mr. Crawford. I said, ' Mrs. Marshall, the Baptists 
have just closed one; the Methodists have closed one; I 
have just delivered the proceeds of one for the poor of this 
town of $200, and I am afraid another one will be a failure.' 
'No,' she said, 'not for that good man.' She had been to 
the Methodists and they had told her they would be glad to 
give her the use of their chapel and would help her in every 
possible way. It got noised about that week and Mrs. 
Marshall and myself started to solicit food and to name a 
date. We did not think best to stop at the houses of the 
other congregations, but they came out and stopped us, 
saying, ' Don't go by us for that man, come here.' The 
evening came. A great crowd filled the church above and 
below. We said, 'We will seat all outsiders first from 
other churches.' We could seat sixty at a table. All the 




1846-DEACox Robert W. B. McLELLAN-1852 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 83 

donation received was to be in cash, and no squashes. 
Sixty sat at the first table and we counted the cash— $60. 
We suppered until two o'clock in the morning, and counted 
and gave to Mr. Ciawford (in His Name) $400. He tried 
to thank us. We told him to stop — he was in poor condi- 
tion to make a speech. Sheriff John Holden lived near. 
Mr. Dawes thought Mr. Holden had better take the money 
and see Mr. Crawford to his home." 

When the time came for Dr. Crawford to cease his 
labors, it was evident that the problematical period of the 
church's history had come to an end. Two hundred and 
fifty had united during his pastorate, among them many of 
the choicest Scotch and Puritan stock. From across the 
seas the church had received such .members as Mr. and 
Mrs. Hunter, Deacon McClellan and Deacon James E. 
Marshall, to whose memory a son of the church will at a 
later time pay a tribute. From the established churches 
of our order over the mountain and in the east the church 
had been strengthened by the entrance into its life of the 
Robinsons, of Mr. and Mrs. Dawes, Mr. and Mrs. Austin 
Bond, Mr. and Mrs. John Doane, and many others who long 
continued to give the best of what they had and were to 
the service of the church. 

It was with sorrow that the church received the re- 
signation of Dr. Crawford. A joy which was felt in later 
years came as Dr. Crawford and his family revisited from 
time to time the old home, and as the blessing of his pre- 
sence was shed abroad at the installation of a number of 
his successors. On November 12, 1896, a memorial service 
was held in this church in honor of this large-hearted 
Christian Scotchman, the impress of whose life must be 



84 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

felt even when those who were won to Christ by him shall 
have passed away. 

The successor of Dr. Crawford was the Rev. Albert 
Payne, who came to the church on the third of December, 
1856. Undoubtedly the disturbed condition of the country 
had its influence in making the task of Mr. Payne a most 
difficult one. As a whole the church had taken radical 
grounds upon the side of temperance and of the slave. The 
mass of its membership sympathized with the stand taken 
by the Hon. Henry L,. Dawes, the son of the church, whose 
political position was most prominent. Yet one of the 
deacons of the church, who was also superintendent of the 
Sunday School, was a strong democrat and doubted whether 
the abolition of slavery would be wise. Manufacturers in 
the community were somewhat fearful of the agitation of 
a question which might unfavorably affect industry. Never- 
theless the editor of The North Adams Transcript, James T. 
Robinson, who while not a member of the church was close- 
ly connected with its past life, continued to avow senti- 
ments which were most radically "black republican." It 
is probable that the absorbing interest which these dis- 
cussions aroused led Mr. Payne to feel that the church was 
not as deeply interested in spiritual things as it should be. 
Looking back, however, upon the trying days of the clos- 
ing fifties and the opening sixties, we can say that the 
church at no time in its history has been more loyal to the 
gospel of Jesus Christ than during these years when it wel- 
comed a public discussion of political issues which involved 
the rights of humanity. When in the closing months of 
Mr. Payne's pastorate and during the time of Mr. McGiff ert's 
service our Sunday School boys, like Erwin and~Orr and 
Chase, bade farewell to home and church and marched to 




i8s6-Rhv. Albert Paixe-i862 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 85 

the front in defence of their country, while the faithful 
women bravely remained at home and by their Soldiers' 
Aid Society did their part to maintain the courage of their 
dear ones who were in danger, and to lessen some of the 
hardships of war, the church received the blessing which 
ever attends the martyr spirit. Mr. Payne's pastorate 
closed on the 21st of April, 1862, but that he was not for- 
gotten was made evident, as last year a number of those 
whom he had received into the church, when word came 
of his death, gathered in the chapel to pay their tribute to 
his virtues. 

The heroism of many of his young parishioners may 
have been more conspicuous but it was no more real than 
that of their pastor, as, in the blindness off old age, he 
maintained a heart full of cheer and trust in the eternal 
goodness. The following is a brief epitome of the life of 
Mr. Payne: 

Albert Payne was born in Woodstock, Conn., 1819, 
July 21 ; was graduated from Yale college 1841 ; studied 
theology in Andover theological seminary 1841-42 ; Yale 
divinity, New Haven, Conn., 1843-44, and Auburn theo- 
logical seminary 1845 5 licensed to preach by the Brookfield, 
Mass., Association, October 2, 1844 ; supplied the Presby- 
terian church, Lancaster, Erie County, N. Y., 1846 ; ordain- 
ed pastor of the Congregational church, West Amesbury, 
Mass., September 7, 1848; dismissed in 1854; pastor of the 
Congregational church in North Adams, Mass., December, 
1856, to May, 1862 ; resident chaplain, Fortress Monroe, 
Va., 1863; in 1864 went to Wisconsin, became editor of the 
Beloit Journal; in mercantile life until 1870 ; resided in 
Boston and Charlestown, supplying pulpits until 1875 ; from 
i§j|5 to 1878, pastor of the church in North Falmouth, 



86 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Mass. Mrs. Payne died January 30, 1901. He died of heart 
failure, following pneumonia, at Roxbury, Mass., May 15, 
1901, aged 81 years, 9 months, 24 days. ' 

The mantle of charity must be thrown over the brief 
pastorate of Mr. McGiffert, for subsequent events in his 
life point to the probability that when in North Adams he 
was not mentally responsible for all his actions. 

At the same time, the spirit of the church is revealed, 
in its unwillingness to brook pastoral interference with what 
was believed to belong in the domain of the individual 
conscience. 

The theology of most of the pastors of the church had 
thus far been severely Calvinistic. God had been pre- 
sented as a Judge and King, more frequently than as a 
Father. Every opportunity offered for repentance had 
been viewed as possibly the last. A strong motive was the 
fear of punishment after death. Again and again did Dr. 
Crawford preach upon, " Consider thy latter end ! " God 
was outside the world and his will, however it might con- 
flict with reason, was supreme. 

But while a God was sometimes proclaimed who did 
for the glory of His Name what would have been wrong in 
one of His children, the hearts of our old-time ministers 
were as those of children. 

No one who had incurred the righteous displeasure of 
Dr. Russell ever realized it when in trouble, for the stern 
lines then faded out of the theologian's face, and he re- 
vealed all the delicacy and sympathy of a woman. 

Dr. Crawford lamented that a son of the church, the 
Rev. George Jackson, should cleave to what was to him the 
damnable heresy of future probation. But when the test 
came, the old man voted to ordain the young heretic be- 
cause of his loyalty to the Master. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 87 

His insistence upon the doctrine of decrees did not, I 
find, prevent Mr. Payne from speaking in the Universalist 
church. 

Unconsciously this church imbibed the lessons taught 
by the hearts and examples of its ministers, rather than 
those which were the necessary result of their theological 
systems. It was at last prepared to enter upon a way in 
which there should be a greater place made for the intuitions 
of the heart, a way which leads into the world of the pres- 
ent, immanent God. 

It was natural that the differences of opinion, which 
became so pronounced during the last months of Mr. Mc- 
Giffert's stay, should have marred the spirit of church unity. 
A man was needed whom every one knew and respected, a 
practical teacher of righteousness, one who should be the 
friend of all the people. This man was found in Rev. Ad- 
dison Ballard, who had been so long and favorably known 
by the church as professor in Williams and pastor of the 
village church. 

Dr. Ballard supplied the church for almost a year, from 
his home in Williamstown. 

The church and society now contained a number of 
strong men who had prospered in business during the war. 
Under the pastorate of Mr. McGiffert, the corner-stone of 
our present building had been laid ; under Dr. Ballard the 
church was completed and dedicated. It is one of the 
privileges of this anniversary week that we have with us 
the one who led the church so wisely during the period of 
transition, and who will tell us for himself the story of the 
dedication of our present house of worship. 

The church was so inspired as the result of Mr. Bal- 
lard's quiet ministry, all the conditions of its life were so 



88 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

favorable, that it turned with absolute unanimity to the 
young pastor of the church in Morrisania, N. Y., Washing- 
ton Gladden, who had eight years before been a favorite 
pupil of its tried and tested friend, Dr. Hopkins. 

It is the purpose of your historian to touch but briefly 
upon the later history, beginning with Dr. Gladden, not 
because it is less important than that which goes before, 
but because we have with us three of the men of whose 
record we are so proud, and the privilege is given us of 
gaining our historical knowledge at first hand. 

Dr. Munger has spoken to you of the conditions of 
church life before his pastorate, and when the master has 
spoken the pupil may well keep silence. 

Dr. Gladden's pastorate had been but a short one 
when he yielded to the allurements of an editorial throne ; 
nevertheless he so built himself into the life of this church 
and community that we have never lost him. He had no 
system of theology to defend, as had most of the men of 
his day. Horace Bushnell had saved him for the ministry 
when he was in revolt against the unhuman character of 
much of the current theology. He was then beginning 
to be what he has since become in such abounding meas- 
ure, a citizen of the world. 

The valley of the Hoosac was not a " vale of tears " to 
him, but a veritable " happy valley." He found a gospel 
in the woods as he went off with friends upon a fishing 
trip, and returned to tell of what he saw and of the bap- 
tism of one of his companions in the midst of the wilder- 
ness. It was said with wonder that he preached sermons 
that did not contain the name of Christ, but his doing so 
freed men from slavery to the Christ of the letter and in- 
troduced them to the Christ of the spirit, who is many 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 89 

times too great for any human formula, but is found often 
in the wrong conditions of life about us which press 
for redress. 

As a business man Dr. Gladden would have been a 
chief among his fellows, and as the administrator of a 
parish no man could surpass him. Through his efforts 
the parish was divided into districts. Sub-pastors were 
appointed in these districts, district meetings were held, 
the country about reached, a canvass brought up the mis 
sionary offerings from practically nothing to a generous 
figure. All this .was accomplished easily by the church 
when it was paying twice as much for its home expenses 
as it ever had before. 

During his pastorate the Young People's Association 
was organized — the second service was changed from the 
afternoon to the evening, and this church, together with 
the Baptist and Methodist, assumed the care of the Union 
church of Blackinton, which has so taxed the strength of 
your pastors, but has at the same time refreshed them as 
they have felt with Dr. Munger that their afternoon work 
was conducted upon a union basis, which placed the com- 
munity at least fifty years ahead of the times. 

We may sum up Dr. Gladden's pastorate by saying 
that the members of the church learned under his tutelage 
the great lesson of living together in manlier, happier, 
more helpful fashion. His letter of resignation deserves 
to be repeated on this anniversary. 

"There never was a more generous and considerate 
people than you have been, and no pastor ever loved his 
people more than I have loved you. Nothing has occurred 
during the five years of my pastorate to weaken my affection 
for you, or my confidence in your loyalty to me. If there 



90 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

is any person in this church who is not my warm friend I 
do not know his name — do not want to know it. I write 
these words for a testimony to you and to all zvho shall come 
after you, as long as the records of this church shall be read, 
that the friendship which has bound us together as pastor 
and people has been unbroken to the end. I go away sad- 
ly, leaving behind the best friends and the happiest home 
I ever had." 

In the same spirit of harmony in which Dr. Gladden 
had been called, the church invited Dr. Pratt to become its 
leader, and well did he fulfill the spirit of expectation in 
which he was received. For twenty-five years he had been 
a teacher, and in his pastorate he continued to carry out 
the habits of his professorial life. The parsonage became 
a centre for university extension among his people. Every 
organization in the church became a means of Christian 
nurture. Each new year has taught us a more impressive 
lesson since the first New Year's sunrise prayer meeting 
was inaugurated by him in 1874. 

Dr. Pratt did not say much about the new psychology, 
but he understood its practical bearings as few men who 
are now preaching it do. I question whether any young 
people's organization ever trained so many young people 
for the church as did our association during his pastorate. 
As the result of his faithful tuition, 164 came into the 
church in the year 1874. 

Dr. Pratt taught this church that when the spirit of 
loyalty to the church and personal consecration to the 
Christ is put into our organization, that organization, 
whether perfect in form or not, is endued with Divine power. 
As the church in later years has recurred to this lesson, 
pastor and people have alike been blessed. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 91 

And what, in this presence, after the words of the 
morning, can I say of Dr. Munger's pastorate? 

Will you not agree with me that under the influence 
of his leadership you entered into the meaning of Paul's 
words, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are 
honest — are just — are pure — are lovely — are of good report, 
if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on 
these things." 

You men and women who listened to Dr. Munger 
learned to love the thought without which it is impossible 
to live a well rounded and growing life. 

You reached the point not yet attained by many con- 
gregations, of ceasing to ask your minister to tell you what 
you knew already. 

You learned to listen in church as the student listens 
in the lecture room when an examination is imminent. 

Dr. Munger built himself into the higher faculties of 
your soul, and through his influence the Christ life appeals 
to you with a force which can never rise and ebb with the 
flow of emotion, as involving your reasonable service. 

When my honored predecessor meets with such atten- 
tion, then, as he always does when he returns to you, he is 
but coming to his own. 

During the months following Dr. Munger's departure 
for New Haven the church had great difficulty in securing 
his successor. November 10, 1885, a call was given to Rev. 
Henry Hopkins of Kansas City, Mo., who by birth and 
association was so closely connected with the best life of 
North Berkshire. But Dr. Hopkins, while acknowledging 
the attractiveness of the call, in loyalty to his position of 
trust in the shaping of the great south-west, was compelled 
to decline. 



92 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

At the sunrise meeting, 1886, the church was gladdened 
by the presence and leadership of the founder of these 
meetings, Dr. Pratt, who also officiated at the first com- 
mencement of the year. On the 1st of February, 1886, a 
call was extended to Rev. H. P. DeForest of Taunton, and 
the call was accepted, but on the following month Dr. De 
Forest wrote that his people objected so decidedly to his 
departure that he was compelled to withdraw his accept- 
ance. When he had given in conversation as one reason 
for his change of mind, his fear for the future of the church 
so overshadowed by the large neighboring Baptist church, 
Colonel Bracewell of the committee, in his direct, outspoken 
way said, "If he is that kind of a man we don't want him." 
But at last in the Providence of God, as we believe, a man 
was found whom the church did want, and who had no 
fear of any lions who might be either in or across the way. 

On the 25th of April, 1886, the call was extended to John 
Patterson Coyle, pastor of the church in Morrisania, N. Y., 
which had before given us a pastor in the person of Wash- 
ington Gladden. Mr. Coyle was attracted by the call to 
such a field, and in his manly honest fashion did not hesi- 
tate to say so. As we read his letter we feel that here 
speaks a man who, while he may not pay the utmost 
attention to the demands of ecclesiastical propriety, will 
assuredly be himself. " It is difficult" he says in his letter 
of acceptance, "when duty and inclination seem to point in 
the same direction, to be sure of our motives." How char- 
acteristic the words ! They remind us of a later time in 
his life when, as President Gates tells us, he was chosen by 
his friends at the retreat in Grinnell, Iowa, to preside at 
the Lord's table. He only consented upon the condition 
that he be permitted to explain his own unworthiness for 




i886-Rev. John P. C0YLE-1894 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 93 

the office. He said that he had been realizing during the 
retreat days how sinfully proud he was, and it had humili- 
ated him to such an extent that he shrunk from even the 
little appearance of prominence which the choice of those 
present had thrust upon him. " Why, " said he, " I shall 
even be proud of this confession before I am done with it." 

In securing Dr. Coyle as its pastor, this church gained 
a leader of unusual intellectual power, whose mind was 
magnificently trained by his love for mathematics and 
philosophy— a man of marked original genius, a born 
leader of his fellows, but above all a man filled with a 
passion for Christ, and by his Christ love led to cherish a 
love for humanity. The transparency of his character, the 
single-hearted devotion to his work, the absorbing interest 
in everything pertaining to life, were among the tokens by 
which those who knew him best recognized in him a 
Messianic man. 

Mr. Coyle's life before coming to North Adams had 
been such as is given to few men, and peculiarly fitted 
him for strong leadership, not only in this church and 
community but in the larger world outside. Of sturdy 
Scotch parentage, brought up on a farm, nurtured in the 
faith of John Calvin— his heredity and early environment 
gave him that rooting in the past without which coherent 
thinking is impossible. Rejoicing in life, entering with 
zest into the most advanced thought of the greatest thinkers, 
quick to apprehend the spirit of the time, recognizing the 
authoritativeness of science and the binding force of reason, 
for a time after his graduation in Princeton he felt that he 
must break with the faith of his fathers, and in unhappiness 
was compelled to assume the position of an agnostic. At 
last his overwhelming sense of the worth of Jesus Christ 



94 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

brought him into a position where he was conscious that 
his only happiness could be found in exalting the Christ, 
the revelation of the unknown God of the agnostic, and in 
applying His spirit to the problems of the day. He believed 
in the divine claims of the Zeit Geist, and he accepted this 
spirit as expressing for our day the authority of the Christ. 
Vigorous in body and mind, Mr. Coyle thrust himself with- 
out reserve into the service of this church and community. 
He had published a paper in Morrisania called " The 
Optimist." Soon after coming to North Adams he enlisted 
the Young People's Association in the publication of a 
paper devoted to the work of the church, entitled " The 
Way." The paper deserved a longer life. It was devoted 
to the essential things of the Kingdom ; optimistic and help- 
ful in spirit, it pointed the church to the present signs of 
promise. As we read it we find everywhere the stamp of 
Dr. Coyle's personality. But we are also impressed with 
the way in which he enlists men in the service of the 
church through this paper and through the Young People's 
Association, who ordinarily would have been repelled by 
the standard type both of ministers and of churches. 

Speaking as one who knows Dr. Coyle not directly but 
through his fruitage, which I have found in the larger, 
more Christ-like life of his closest friends, I must say of 
him as was said of his imperial Head : "In Him was life, and 
the life was the light of men." He loved to serve others. 
Again and again does he act as a volunteer nurse. Many 
the time in which he returned to his home with an empty 
purse after relieving the needs of the poor which he carried 
in Christ-like fashion as a weight of agony upon his own 
soul. He refused gifts because of his desire to meet every 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 95 

one upon the plane of a common manhood, where nothing 
is given which cannot be readily returned. He labored 
zealously for a purer town life, for better schools, for a 
higher type of music, because he believed in establishing 
the Kingdom of God on earth. Through him a drinking 
fountain was set up on Main street, that passers-by might 
have some other place than a saloon in which to satisfy 
their thirst. Through his influence men became ashamed 
of dock-tailed horses, and liverymen removed the cruel 
overhead check. He was not afraid of failures, this brave 
knight of the Cross. At his suggestion the church tried 
many experiments, which were not always successful. He 
preached sermons which many did not understand. He 
co-operated in the work of evangelists whose labors he did 
not approve, but his purpose never wavered. He would 
have his church, his town, his nation imbued with the 
Messianic spirit. Men differed from him and criticised some 
of his utterances and his methods, but they respected his 
Christian manhood and they loved him. Remarkable was 
his affection for the children and the children's confidence 
in him. He tried from Sunday to Sunday to put his best 
thought into a simple form which they could apprehend. 
He brought life and zest to their organizations, whether they 
were missionary or social. A ten-year old boy in Blackinton 
who said to him when he was thinking of leaving, " We 
cannot afford to lose such a man as you, Dr. Coyle," voiced 
the general feeling of the children which was but a direct 
reflection of the sentiment of their fathers and mothers in 
the community. Little did the church think when they 
bade farewell to their beloved pastor in the fall of 1894, as 
he left them for what seemed a wider field of influence, 



96 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

that they were never to hear his voice again, for Dr. Coyle 
loved his church and loved the community to whose more 
Christ-like life he had given eight of the best years of his own 
life, and counted upon spending his future vacations in the 
Berkshires. Looked at from a human standpoint, we can 
never understand why it was that a life which seemed to 
have before it its greatest opportunity of usefulness should 
have been taken from the world. His people were not 
permitted to hear the voice which had roused them from 
lethargic dreams and incited them to nobler living so many 
times, but to them the sad joy was granted of receiving 
from the western home, where he had hardly commenced 
his labors, all that was mortal of the leader they had so 
reluctantly given up, and following his body to the ceme- 
tery, once the lot of the first minister of Adams, where his 
dust waits the resurrection of the just, amid the glorious 
mountains which had so thrilled him by their changing 
beauties, and the people who had become a part of his life. 
If God in His loving Providence permits the successors of 
John P. Coyle to accomplish a work for Him, they must 
feel as does his first successor, that the way has been pre- 
pared for their service through the still living influence of 
him whose grave should be to us and to our children a 
revered and sacred shrine. 

A statistical summary of the History of the North 
Adams church : 

Entire membership from beginning, . . . 1861 
Members from across the sea, .... 355 

Members from New England, 449 

United on profession of faith, .... 1106 

Members omitted from church roll by mistake . 8 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 97 

Members on the roll at present who united during the 
different pastorates : 

Dr. Yeomans, out of 133 1 

Mr Tracy, out of 75 1 

Mr. Day, out of 33 o 

Dr. Russell, out of 39 1 

Dr. Crawford, out of 250 13 

Mr. Payne, out of 72 16 

Mr. McGiffert, out of 40 8 

Dr. Ballard, out of 7 o 

Dr. Gladden, out of 163 34 

Dr. Pratt, out of 304 92 

L^XTpplyingj^of^ 8 

Dr. Munger, out of 160 88 

Dr. Coyle, out of 350 245 

Mr. Tenney, out of 222 170 




Church Building Committee 



Our Church Buildings— Their Care 
and Contents 



Deacon James E. Hunter 

On the afternoon of the day of Mr. Yeoman's ordination, 
November 12, 1828, the new house of worship was dedicated 
to the service of God, a sermon being preached by the pastor. 
This building was of brick, on the site of the present edi- 
fice. It was 42 feet by 62 feet in size, with a seating 
capacity of 400. The total cost was about $4,000. The 
heating of the church was from two stoves, one on each 
side, with the front of the stoves in the vestibule, so that 
firing would not disturb the members, and coals could be 
procured for the foot stoves, then used by the old and infirm 
of the congregation. The lighting of the church was by 
oil lamps. The "dim and religious light" was common in 
these days. 

The society purchased in 1839 or 1840 of Messrs. 
Andrews of Troy, N. Y., an organ at a cost of $600. This 
was the first organ in town. 

April 23, 1844, a committee of three was appointed to 
solicit funds from the three societies, Congregationalist, 
Baptist and Methodist, for the purpose of paying a man 
for ringing the bell. At this time this was the only 
church bell in town, and was probably placed in the 
tower when the church was completed in 1828 and used by 
the three societies. : , 



ioo SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Also a committee of three was appointed to repair the 
church, with instructions to proceed with the work at 
a cost of $500. In September the committee reported that 
the work was completed and had exceeded the amount 
raised by $90. The committee consisted of J. Q. Robinson, 
James E. Marshall and Elisha Harris. 

This work included removing the two stoves used for 
heating, and placing larger ones in the basement where 
they were bricked in, leaving an air chamber around the 
stoves, which was connected with a register in each aisle. 
This was a new plan for heating churches and an improve- 
ment upon the old one. The stoves were long, so that 4-foot 
wood could be burnt without cutting. 

All meetings of the church and society were held in 
the church, there being no small room for meetings of any 
kind. There was a gallery on two sides and on the south 
end of the church. The organ and singers' seats were in 
the south end, the pulpit in the north end. The congrega- 
tion turned around during the singing, and then but few 
could see the singers on account of the high gallery. This 
was the excuse the boys gave their parents for wanting to 
sit in the gallery. 

April 3, 1847, a committee was appointed to consider 
the question of repairing and enlarging their meeting- 
house, and report at an adjourned meeting. April 13 the 
committee reported favorably to building an addition 18 
feet by 26 feet for the use of the organ and singers. This 
addition consisted in taking out the south end of the gal- 
lery and the south end of the church, and building on a 
wooden addition to accommodate the organ and the singers, 
also a room called a vestry under the singers' seats for 
evening meetings, of which the church stood greatly in 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 101 

need. This was heated by a stove and lighted by oil 
lamps. There was no connection between church and 
vestry. A door on the west end was the only entrance. 
The committee were B. S. Hawkes, N. H. Stearns, James 
E. Marshall and H. L. Dawes. 

On July 20, 1863, agreeable to a warrant, a meeting 
was held at two o'clock in the afternoon, and it was voted 
to choose three appraisers to appraise the pews in the 
meeting-house belonging to private individuals (five pews 
were owned at this time in the old church), also to see if in 
their judgment it was suitable for public worship and 
report. After examination the committee reported the 
building unsafe for public worship. 

A meeting was held July 1, 1863, when it was voted to 
build a new church, and a building committee was ap- 
pointed as follows : Sylvander Johnson, William S. Black- 
inton, A. P. Butler, Joel Bacon and James Hunter. This 
committee secured plans and specifications for the present 
church from Charles Edward Parker of Boston, architect. 
The builders were Pierce & Horton. 

The specifications in part of the present Congrega- 
tional church are as follows : " The building will consist 
of a church to finish, 88 feet long by 64 feet wide, exterior 
dimensions, exclusive of a tower, 18 feet square, at one 
corner, and an organ room, 11 feet by 17 feet, at the oppo- 
site corner. In the rear of the church will be a chapel 38 
feet wide by 52 feet long, outside dimensions, and a ladies' 
chapel, 21 feet by 14 feet, in the clear. 

"The side walls of the church will be 21 feet high 
above the floor, and those of the chapel will be 12 feet 
high above the floor. 

" The church will finish 36 feet clear height under the 
collar beams, and the chapel 21 feet high to the ceiling. 



io2 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

" There will be a gallery finished over the front vesti- 
bule and two rooms in the tower will be finished off, one 
for a committee room and one for a study." 

The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid Octo- 
ber 6, 1863. Prayer was offered by Dr. Ballard with singing 
by five of the choir, E. Rogers, leader. Dr. Hawkes was 
master of ceremonies, and I quote this extract from his 
speech : "I deposit the following documents : First of all, 
I deposit the Holy Scriptures. Resting on this I lay the 
records and present membership of the church, with the 
names of the building committee, through whose untiring 
perseverance the work has progressed to its present condi- 
tion. I deposit this scroll containing the names and sub- 
scriptions of all who have generously contributed to this 
work, also the names of the builders, Messrs Pierce & 
H or ton." 

Then came the depositing of various articles — business 
cards, coins, sample of new postage currency, some Jeff. 
Davis "shin plasters," copies of News and Transcript. The 
corner stone was moved to its position by the building com- 
mittee, Wm. S. Blackinton, James Hunter, S. Johnson, A. P. 
Butler and Joel Bacon, and cemented in place. Professor 
Tatlock spoke in a happy vein of the changes he noted since 
he first came to preach in the old church removed to make 
place for the new. 

Dr. Ballard read Isaiah, 28th chapter, 16th verse, Psalm 
144th, 1 2th. Rev. Jay Dana gave the hymn "All hail the 
power of Jesus' name." Dr. Ballard made some very im- 
pressive remarks. Professor Tatlock pronounced the 
benediction. 

The chapel was completed February 21, 1864, an d that 
was used for worship until the main edifice was finished. 




Samuel J. Whitton 
Donor of the Bell 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 103 

The church was planned to seat 700. The entire cost, with 
bell and organ, was about $40,000, $8,000 of which was 
pledged the week of the dedication to have it free from 
debt. The beautiful rose window in the north front was 
the gift of the late Sylvander Johnson. The Bible and 
hymn book were presented by Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Wilmarth. 
The chairs in the pulpit were the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. 
S. Blackinton. The center one has a carved garland across 
the back with the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway." 
They also presented the silver communion service and the 
black walnut chairs for the choir; the chairs now used by 
the deacons are some of them. The communion table was 
given by the daughters of the late Clement Harrison ; the 
carpet was red and black and was made by the women of 
the church. 

Mr. Samuel J. Whitton of Colrain, Mass., formerly of 
this town, made in memory of his mother, who was a 
member of this church, a most magnificent gift to the 
Congregational society which consisted of $1,000 for the 
church building, $600 for the organ, and the bell, the cost 
of which exceeded $3,000. 

The bell was made by Messrs. Meneely of West Troy 
and was pronounced by them to be the largest church bell 
made in the United States at that time, (1865). Its weight 
with the yoke is nearly 6,000 lbs. Its height is 4^ feet, its 
diameter 62^2 inches. The following inscription is cast 
upon it: 

" Presented to the Congregational church of North 
Adams, Mass., by Samuel J. Whitton, A. D. 1865." 

"This bell is beautiful in shape and of rich bronze color ; 
it is keyed on ' C ' and the vibrations fall deep, rich and 
prolonged like the diapason notes of an organ." 



104 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

It requires more than one man power to produce the 
full grandeur of its melodious tones. 

Mr. Whitton not only presented the bell, but every- 
thing connected with its hanging, even to the rope, also 
paid its shipment to the front of the church. For several 
days as you came in sight of the new church, a group of 
men would be seen, with Mr. John Orr, special guardian, 
tapping it with their pocket knives to test its sensitive 
tones. 

It was brought on a special car over the Troy & Bos- 
ton railroad and was met by a large delegation of friends. 
A great fire in West Troy, the day it was to have been 
shipped, prevented its removal on the day appointed, and 
it was not in time to be rung at the dedication of the 
church, but it arrived in time for the first services held on 
Sunday. 

Mr. A. E. Wilson, the inventor of the Wheeler & 
Wilson sewing machine, begged the privilege of striking 
the bell first in honor of its donor, offering to pay one 
dollar per stroke. Permission given, he made its first 
tones reverberate through the valley, as with a sledge he 
struck thirteen blows. As the echoes ceased he handed a 
twenty dollar bill to Joel Bacon, saying, " That was the 
sweetest melody I ever heard." This money was given to 
Mrs. James T. Robinson for the Ladies' Aid society, and 
it was used in furnishing the interior of the new church. 

The question of owning a house for the minister was 
decided in the spring of 1868 by buying on April 1 of that 
year what was known as the Nehemiah Hodge place on 
Church street. This was occupied first as a parsonage by 
Dr. Gladden and then by Dr. Pratt. But the house was old 
and lacked modern improvements, and it gradually became 




Colonel John Bracewell 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 105 

inadequate to the needs of the pastor and his family. After 
Dr. Munger came the present parsonage was built on the 
same site, Deacon James Hunter and his wife taking the 
initiative by starting the subscription with $1,000, Mrs. 
Hunter saying that she could not bear to live in a better 
house than her minister. Others followed their lead gen- 
erously, and April 15, 1887, it was voted to build a new 
parsonage from plans made by E. C. Gardner of Springfield, 
Mass. 

The trustees, who were James E. Hunter, H. Torrey 
Cady, and J. C. Goodrich, served as building committee. 
The old parsonage was sold. It was cut into two parts and 
moved into what is now Arnold place, where it still stands 
as parts of two houses. The building committee discharged 
its duties carefully, and there was no debt to meet after 
their work was finished, the subscriptions fully covering 
all cost. 

June 5, 1888, it was voted to appoint a committee to 
procure plans for the extension of the chapel. E. B. Penni- 
man, John Bracewell, George W. Chase, W. H. Bixby, Mrs. 
Dr. Lawrence, Mrs. A. W. Hunter and Mrs. George W. 
Chase were that committee. 

July 31, 1888, it was voted to make such alterations as 
plans called for, not to exceed $10,000, and voted that the 
trustees and three others be the building committee. The 
following were the committee : E. B. Penniman, Alexander 
McDougall, C. E. Ketchum, D. J. Barber, George W. Chase 
and J. C. Goodrich. The society was greatly indebted to 
the committee and E. B. Penniman for the great interest 
manifested and great amount of time spent in rebuilding 
and enlarging our chapel. 



106 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

April 12, 1899, onr chapel was partly destroyed by fire. 
The church and organ were damaged by smoke and water. 
The following committee was appointed for renovating the 
church : James E. Hunter, E. B. Penniman, C. H. Cutting, 
R. L. Chase, Mrs. John Bracewell, Mrs. F. E. Swift, George 
French, A. H. Barber, C. W. Ford and two members from 
the Ladies' Aid society. 

In rebuilding the chapel, repairs were also made in the 
church. The church was wired for electricity ; the slips 
were repaired ; the walls were cleaned and painted ; the 
organ was repaired and the key-board set in front of the 
singers, and all the modern improvements in organ con- 
struction were made. A new carpet was purchased, and 
the pulpit chairs repaired and covered. The music com- 
mittee and Mr. Hadfield, organist, were appointed a com- 
mittee to repair the organ. 

At an adjourned meeting May 22, 1899, James E. 
Hunter, Charles W. Ford and Martin C. Jewett were 
appointed a building committee, with authority to rebuild 
the present chapel according to plans furnished by E. T. 
Barlow of North Adams, the chapel to be lighted by elec- 
tricity. The expense to the society over the insurance 
received for the damage by fire was $4,000. 

The builder was Alexander Pecor of North Adams. 
The church and chapel were wired by the Berkshire Elec- 
tric Co., and the decorations of the church were made by 
Prince & Walker of Pittsfield. 



The Music of the Church 



Deacon George W. Chase. 

The early records of the church have little to say about 
the music. Therefore we have had to depend upon family 
history and the memory of a few old members for the early 
history of the music of our church. Our first pastor, Mr. 
Yeomans, was a good singer and musician, and the Wil- 
liamstown members who came with him were quite musical, 
as some of them were members of the Williamstown band, 
notably Charles Butler and Thomas Palmer Goodrich. 
Singing meetings were held from house to house. Many 
of the families were all singers. Deacon Merriam owned 
a small melodeon which he carried from house to house and 
played at these singing meetings. He also played the bass 
viol in the church. 

When first organized the church had no organ, and 
sang from "Watts and Select", without tunes. The families 
of the Merriams, Munns, Whites, Stewarts, Goulds and 
others contributed large numbers to the choir. 

In 1839 Mr. Charles Butler raised six hundred dollars 
to purchase an organ. It was built by Andrews of Troy, 
and Mr Butler, who was leader of the choir, walked to Troy 
to inspect the organ and after accepting it walked home. 
An orchestra accompanied the organ and Mrs. Gardner 
White was a violinist. Her first appearance in the choir 
was objected to, as lady violinists were a novelty. 



108 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Singing schools were much in evidence, and parts of 
the oratorios and anthems from the "Carmina" were taken 
up. The conductors were Mr. Butler, Nelson Dewey, 
Daniel P. Merriam and Mr. Goodrich. Edwin Rogers 
came over from Conway in 1842, and on his first Sunday 
at church played his flute. 

In 1847 an addition was built to the south end of the 
church to make a better place for the choir gallery and 
organ, and also for a vestry room underneath. In the early 
fifties William F. Sherwin came to town and taught music. 
He and Rogers conducted the choir as long as he remained 
in town, Rogers continuing for many years after the new 
church was built. Some of those most prominent as solo- 
ists during this period were the Kings — Nahum, Lucy and 
Mary — Helen Randall Walton, Maria Gleason Holbrook, 
Roba Holden Jewett, Mrs. Homer Smith, the Misses Daily 
and Mrs. James E. Hunter. Mr. Rogers sang most of the 
tenor solos and Mr. King most of the bass solos. 

Musical conventions were held alternately here and at 
Keene, Bennington and Hoosac Falls under the leadership 
of Sherwin, Frost, Johnson and others who left their im- 
press upon the music of the churches. These conventions 
usually lasted a week at one place. The organists in the 
old church were Charles Munn, Mr. Merriam, Sherwin, V. 
A. Whitaker, Mr. Blakeslee, Mrs. Smith and W T illiam E. 
Brown. Mr. Brown was engaged also as teacher, and a 
large choir was organized under his leadership. No instru- 
ment was used in the prayer meeting in the early days, and 
after the announcement of the first hymns by the leader, 
the singing was "spontaneous", being started by anyone. 

Until the fifties Sunday School singing was limited to 
hymns of the church. Bradbury's publications were intro- 




Edwin Rogers 

Conductor of Music for Nearly a Quarter 

of a Centurv 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 109 

duced about this time by Mr. Brown. Mrs. Holbrook and 
Mrs. Jewett followed Mr. Brown as leaders of the singing 
in the Sunday School. 

When we entered the new church an advanced step 
was made in music. Mr. George B. Perry and family had 
moved here. He had conducted one of the best choirs in 
the west, and Mrs. Perry had been a soloist in our commun- 
ity, and a pupil of Sherwin before her marriage. Dr. 
Gladden, the new pastor, was a good musician and in 
thorough sympathy with the choir. New books were in- 
troduced into the prayer meeting and Sunday School. Good 
concerts were given for the benefit of the organ fund. A 
notable concert was the one of March 12, 1867, at the dedi- 
cation of the new organ, and under the direction of Mr. 
Perry. During Dr. Gladden's pastorate many tunes were 
composed by him and handed to the choir in manuscript, 
named mostly after members of the choir. 

Dr. Pratt, who followed Dr. Gladden, showed the same 
deep interest in our music. Robinson's " Songs for the 
Sanctuary" were introduced, and a great effort was made to 
promote congregational singing. Mr. Blackinton presented 
the church with a fine cornet, which was played by Mr. A. 
J. Wheeler. (Lack of space prevents the recording of many 
incidents connected with the music of this period, and the 
names of those participating.) 

Dr. Munger came to us in 1877. During his pastorate 
Mr. Charles A. Darling resigned the position of organist, 
which he had held since the building of the new church. 
His resignation was much regretted by the congregation, 
but realizing that the conditions at the time demanded more 
attention than he could give to them, he asked the church 
to secure Professor Frank P. McCormick to carry on the 



1 10 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

work. Professor McCormick was with us from the spring 
of 1884 until 1887, and music of a high order was rendered. 
Professor McCormick says of this period, "Although I have 
had some twenty-five years' connection with churches as 
organist and director, I do not know of any such fine con- 
gregational singing as used to be of weekly occurrence at 
your church.' 1 It was during this period that Dr. Blodgett 
conducted a series of oratorios which were very helpful to 
the singers of North and South Adams. 

Mr. Way followed Mr. McCormick, and Miss Alice 
Porter succeeded him. For several years the congregation 
had been led by a quartette, and in August, 1890, Professor 
George A. Mietzke became organist and director, giving 
the most of his time to building up the music of the church. 

The large chorus he trained so successfully and the 
annual musical festivals he directed have left an influence 
which will stand for years as a testimonial to his work. 
Mr. Jones came to us from the west to succeed Professor 
Mietzke, but hardly remained a year. 

Our present director, Mr. Hadfield, began his work 
with us in 1898, and has filled the position with great sat" 
isfaction to choir and congregation. From the time when 
Mrs. John F. Arnold was engaged to teach the young people 
to sing, until the present, the pastors and business men of 
the society have ever kept in mind the importance of the 
music of the church. We can all testify to the large finan- 
cial aid rendered in making this effective by many whose 
contributions for this purpose were never reported in the 
receipts of the treasurer. Deacon Hunter, Mr. Blackinton, 
Mr. Johnson, Colonel Bracewell and others were always 
helpful in this line. Especial mention should also be made 
of Deacon Perry, who from first to last during his forty 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 1 1 1 

years of life among us devoted so much of his time to this 
part of the church service. He planned the present organ 
in 1867, and after the late fire planned its rebuilding. A 
member of the music committee almost constantly, he was 
ever strenuous for the highest and most worshipful ideals, 
and for the character of those who should take part in this 
service as leaders of others. 




1851-DEAcox Samuel Gaylord-i862 



The Patriotic Record of the Church 



Captain J. Q. Erwin. 

Aroused by the firing of the first shot on Sumpter, 
patriotic services were held in every church, and our church 
was no exception to the general rule. Our pastor, the Rev. 
Albert Paine, gave us a powerful, thoughtful sermon. 
Never, in my opinion, were the thrilling strains of America 
more solemnly and tenderly rendered than on that day by 
our choir under the leadership of Edwin Rogers, and never 
did our old organ sound forth such grand and impressive 
strains as on this occasion under the management of Mrs. 
Homer A. Smith. Comrade Henry Orr and myself also 
assisted on this occasion, as we presided at the bellows. 

The full force and significance of war did not reach 
this community at first, as the first troops called for were 
short service men who were easily obtained from the militia 
already organized in the eastern part of the state. L,ater, 
when the call was issued for three years troops, the war 
came home to us, and our community and its societies and 
organizations became thoroughly imbued with the war 
spirit. Public meetings were held, money raised by pledge 
and subscription, ways and means provided and enlistments 
fostered and encouraged. There were speeches, drills, pro- 
cessions and marchings. 

In all this work of preparation, the members of our 
church and society took a prominent part. Among some 
of those that should be mentioned are Sylvander Johnson, 



ii4 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Judge Robinson, Alpheus Smith, Jerome B. Jackson, and 
Ira Stroud. The first organized body of troops to leave 
the town for the seat of war was called in honor of the 
gentleman first named " The Johnson Greys." This body 
was afterwards known as Company B, ioth Massachusetts 
Infantry. The company was soon filled, and then, too soon, 
it seemed, came its departure to join the regiment, and the 
consequent sad partings. 

The parting over, our brave women returned to their 
homes, seeking solace and comfort in tears and prayer, and 
then, the first fierce agony of parting over, they sought that 
grand panacea for many mental troubles and ills, occupation 
and work. A Soldiers' Aid Society was soon organized, 
and among the women of our church and society who were 
the earliest originators, promoters and w r orkers we find the 
names of Mrs. James T. Robinson, Mrs. W. H. Griswold, 
Mrs. Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Dr. Babbitt. A committee of 
representatives of the different churches was formed, whose 
work was to raise money by concerts, entertainments, etc. 
This was called The Young People's Committee, and the 
representatives from our church were Hon. Ashley B. 
Wright, Mrs. Eliza Quackenbush Wilkinson and Mrs. Jen- 
nie Paul Goodrich. 

In our church bandages were torn and rolled, lint scrap- 
ed and packed, "housewives" containing thread, needles, 
buttons, etc., were made and socks knitted. And into even- 
package and bandage, every housewife and sock, a tear was 
dropped and a prayer breathed for the welfare both tem- 
poral and spiritual of the recipient. As the war continued 
the work was increased and enlarged, and many a soldier 
home on furlough or discharged by reason of wounds, 
disease or disability was made comfortable and happy. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 115 

These labors were continued after the close of the war, and 
as one of the results of their work there stands at our very 
door today a marble memorial of the heroic self-devotion 
of the citizen soldier of the republic. And these women 
builded better than they knew, for this memorial is at the 
same time a beautiful tribute to noble, helpful, self-sacrific- 
ing, Christian womanhood. 

Of active participation by the members of our church 
and society in the civil war, it is more difficult to speak. 
By a hurried search and study of church membership lists, 
rosters and adjutant generals' reports we have been able to 
secure the names of about forty soldiers, who either before, 
after or during service were affiliated with us by church, 
society or Sabbath School membership or family ties. It is 
not claimed that this list is perfect. It may contain names 
that it should not, and undoubtedly does not contain those 
that should be added. The first martyr of the slave holder's 
rebellion from our town, a member of the 10th Mas- 
sachusetts Regiment Band, was a member of our Sabbath 
School. He was Edward A. Chase, a brother of Deacon 
George W. Chase, and died of disease at Camp Brightwood, 
near Washington, D. C, September 25, 1861. His remains 
were brought home and buried with appropriate services in 
Hillside cemetery. Of a class of ten boys who came out of 
the infant class and grew up to manhood together, four, 
Willis *G. Jackson, J. Henry Orr, Charles P. Pitt and the 
writer saw service in the civil war. 

ROLL OF HONOR. 

Edward A. Chase, Willis G. Jackson, 

Henry Paul, S. J. Stroud, 

Andrew Smith, Robert Smith, 

Merritt Bly, Clement L. Capron, 



n6 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 



Henry N. Brown, 
William F. Darby, 
John C. Robinson, 
Sam'l L. Montague, 
Sanford B. Gleason, 

E. D. Church, 
William Erwin, 
John Q. Erwin, 

F. W. Merriam, 
Thomas Pierson, 
Thomas G. Mallory, 
Robert B. Harvie, 
Charles L. Frink, 
William McAdoo, 
John C. Cunningham 
Addison G. Wheeler, 
Isaac Rosenvelt, 
Robert McKay, 



Orson Dalrymple, 
James McArthur, 
Lyman E. Fields, 
Robert Hunter, 
John A. Chickering, 
Gilbert L. Jewett, 
Otis K. Ladd, 
Thomas K. Ladd, 
J. Henry Orr, 
Augustus W. Locke, 
Truman E. Brigham, 
Joseph W. Bently, 
John Rouse, 
Charles P. Pitt, 
Frank N. Ray, 
George Rosenvelt, 
Samuel McLellan, 



N. D. Worth. 

Among those of our number who felt it their duty to 
answer the president's call for troops to uphold the honor 
and dignity of the nation in the later wars in which we 
were engaged, we find the names of Paul Goodrich, Harry 
King, Robert Prentice and Harry Browne, and some of 
these are yet in their country's service. 

Of those who served with us in the civil war, some re- 
turned unscathed, others shattered in health and limb, and 
are living lives of usefulness, object lessons of patriotism 
and love of country, honored and respected in a land they 
helped to save. 




i86o-Deacox James HuNTER-1891 



The Diaconate 



Rev. George A. Jackson. 

Brethren of My Old Church and Parish: 

I have been asked to speak about the deacons of the 
church at your anniversary celebration. Only the impera- 
tive need of being with my family this week prevents my 
complying. It is a real deprivation to me not to come. To 
you it need not be, since the other one of the two Georges, 
who were boys together in the church, will read my address. 

"Next to the election of a minister" says Ian Mac- 
Laren, "nothing stirred the parish of Thorngreen like an 
election of elders, and it may be truthfully said the people 
were far more concerned about the men whom they ap- 
pointed to this sacred office than about the man whom they 
sent to represent them in parliament. The people had also 
a keen sense of the kind of man who was fit to bean elder." 

That is what I wish we might say of every Congrega- 
tional church, concerning its election of deacons. For 
there is a sense in which it is more important to a church 
who its deacons are than who its minister is. Because a 
minister is popularly regarded as an official Christian ; 
though he be a very saint, it is all taken as a matter of 
course ; he comes so little into the tug and strain of busi- 
ness, and is so shielded from the grosser temptations, that 
the hazards are very small that he should go wrong. 
Whereas the deacons, who give character to a church even 
more than its ministers, are just simply men among men. 
They are in the shops and stores and banks ; they buy and 



n8 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

sell ; they run for office ; their personal habits are open to 
the world ; their reputations are not given them with their 
titles, but have to be made by their own every-day lives. 

And a Board of Deacons who always pay a hundred 
cents on a dollar; who always give sixteen ounces for a 
pound ; who work for their employers as they would for 
themselves, or trust their employees like brother men ; who 
are ready, not simply to say to those in need, " Depart in 
peace, be ye warmed and filled," but to give of their substance 
to help them ; who are ready too to give what is often 
better than money, even sympathy, and moral support to 
men who are under a cloud and need to feel that they are 
still God's children, and His friends are their friends ; who 
in a word, stand in the community for integrity and honor 
and cleanness and kindliness ; — such a Board of Deacons 
could carry a church unscathed through the pastorate of a 
Judas. 

Now happily this church has been richly blessed in the 
characters of the men who have stood for them before the 
busy world, who have been to them like Wisdom of old : 
"On the top of high places by the way, 
Where the paths meet, she standeth ; 
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, 
At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud." 

Justly enough, we have never been over modest as a 
people in sounding the praises of our ministers. We have 
had good men, aye, holy men, for pastors. I remember a 
man in my childhood whose name to me is Saint Robert. 
We have also had strong men, scholars, theologians, whose 
names are known through the world for preachers. 

But back in that pastorate of Saint Robert there was 
also in the church a Saint James soon to be chosen a dea- 
con, to serve for thirty-one years himself, besides pointing 









p. 




*■** Jj 




t*fe 



1851-DEACox James E. Marshall-iS6o 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 119 

the way to four other men. And in my mind those two 
Scotch saints are indissolubly connected, as giving a char- 
acter to the " Little Brick " church of the 1850s, such as no 
other sacred structure can ever hold. 

If I associate Dr. Crawford with his visits to the old 
print works schoolhouse by the bridge on Union street, 
and recall the loving way in which he used, before leaving, 
to ask us all to bow our heads while he prayed — something 
so real, so of God, that some of us little fellows, if we had 
never prayed since, might stand a chance of heaven for the 
simple prayers we offered then — if I say I have such asso- 
ciations with my first pastor, I associate Deacon Hunter 
with decades of faithful service as a part of the business 
and social and religious life of this community, which com- 
pelled from all men their respect. 

Then in that same pastorate there was another James, 
already a deacon, who so impressed himself upon the mind 
of one boy as a true gentleman that, though I have not 
seen him for forty-six years, I have always thought of him 
with the most profound respect. Not a slight thing was it 
for Deacon James E. Marshall thus to put into the mind of 
a young lad, to be carried through his whole life, that ideal 
of a Christian gentleman. 

And a third good man, another deacon, who at that 
beginning of its second quarter century was representing 
the church honorably in our thriving village, was Samuel 
Gaylord. He was a man to whom the name of "Deacon " 
Gaylord attached itself as naturally as the name "Doctor" 
Munger did in later years to one of our ministers. 

Of those chosen earlier, I recollect seeing but two — 
Henry Chickering, elected in 1850, and Willard Gould, 
who served from 1832 to 1843. This venerable old servant 



120 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

of the Lord, in my earliest years, sat at the head of the pew 
directly in front of my father's, and was a standing lesson 
to us youngsters of the devout and reverent way in which 
we should listen to the words of the minister. Robert M. 
Bailey was also chosen in 1832, before which time there 
had been a period of three years when the infant church 
had but one deacon, Eli Northam. He and Artemas Crit- 
tenden were elected when the church was organized, in 
1827, but the latter was dismissed in 1829". Deacon Bailey 
served until he removed from town in 1839. In that year 
David Temple and Elisha C. Munn were chosen, serving 
until their deaths, in 1846 and 1851 respectively. In 1846 
were elected Robert W. B. McLellan and David C. Rogers, 
brother to Edwin Rogers, of such happy memory to us all. 

Passing on now from the deacons elected over forty 
years ago, the first to be chosen, in 1864, was Dr. George 
C. Lawrence. He was reluctant to serve, and resigned his 
office in two years, though continuing active in the church 
until his death, in 1884. 

The year of his resignation two deacons were elected ; 
Dr. A. F. Davenport, who served until 1888, and Martin C. 
Jewett. Deacon Jewett ! I could no more today speak of 
him as Mr. Jewett than I could, as a boy, speak of Mr. 
Hawks, when I meant Dr. Hawks. I have always sus- 
pected that it was Deacon Jewett's connection with the 
Hunter family which made us first think of him as a dea- 
con. But grant that it was ; his honorable service — now 
reaching five and thirty years, the longest term of any — 
long ago made him a deacon in his own right. 

*Daniel P. Merriam had been a deacon elsewhere before becoming one of 
the charter members of this church, and though there is no record of his elec- 
tion by this church, he officiated as deacon up to the time of his removal from 
the town in 1832. At Deacon Merriam's house were held the Wednesday even- 
ing prayer meetings of the church's earliest years. 




1872-DEACox George PERRY-1902 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 121 

It was now four years before another election, when, 
in 1872, George French and George B. Perry were chosen. 
Deacon French, who has thus been in office thirty years, 
has had the longest continuous term of any, save Deacon 
James Hunter and Deacon Jewett. Deacon Perry, whose 
entire service lacked only one of thirty years, had his term 
interrupted for one year by the change which was made in 
the rules of the church in 1897. 

I have not been asked to give my own views as to the 
diaconate. I will venture to say, however, that my ideal 
of the deacon's office has always been that it should con- 
tinue for life. But North Adams people have a way of 
arranging official affairs which, while breaking away from 
the traditional, preserves its best and avoids its evil 
features. You have arranged your diaconate in accord 
with the official life of a ministerial friend of mine. One 
year in seven he claims from his parish as a year of rest. 
Having no family, he can afford it, and his people let him 
off. So your plan, under which my dear old friend, the 
next man to be chosen deacon, in 1888, is now having his 
Sabbatical year, does after all meet my ideal. For it is in 
reality Deacon George W. Chase this year, just as truly as 
it was last year, and will be next year. 

Deacon McDougall, chosen also in 1888 — I cannot at 
all understand why it isn't the Rev. Dr. McDougall, just 
as it is the Rev. Dr. George A. Gordon — was the first man 
of your honored Board to get his year of rest, as Deacon 
Chase is now the last. 

Of the appreciation of the church for Deacon David 
A. Anderson, proof has been given this very year, in his 
re-election, after the appointed intermission. 



122 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Deacon James E. Hunter. Of course ! Would any- 
sane person have thought of calling any one else to the 
diaconate at the first election after James the first had 
finished his course ? 

Deacon Herbert E. Wetherbee ! There it is again ! No, 
I do not believe that it is anything in that old shop down 
by the river that does it ; for I have known men down 
there that could not possibly be made deacons of an 
orthodox church. It must be something in that Scotch 
blood, which not only fits men in whose veins it flows to 
be ministers and deacons themselves, but fits even 
Yankees of centuries back, over whom its owners have 
come to have an influence. Deacon Chase, it is true, is a 
grandson of his own grandfather Gould ; but I somehow 
associate him with the Hunter group. Surely five out of 
eleven in the last forty years is a good number of deacons 
to be, directly or indirectly, the gift of one family. 

Deacon Wetherbee was chosen, as I suppose, to fill 
the unexpired term of Deacon Perry, the first of the Board 
to go home to God since 1891. It was my lot to say the 
last offices over him in his Boston home, before he was 
borne among you for funeral and burial. And I am glad, 
and thankful to the Lord and Master W T hom we all serve, 
that I can record my belief that over your entire Board of 
Deacons, as they in turn shall be called to go, it will be in 
keeping to say this prayer which we said over him : 

" O, Almighty God, who has knit together Thine elect 
in our communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of 
Thy Son, Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow Thy 
blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may 
come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared 
for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen." 




1840-REv. Robert CRAWFORD-1855 



Pastorate of Rev. Robert Crawford, D. D. 



Rev. Lyndon S. Crawford, D. D. 

In an old study table which did service in North Adams 
from 1840 to 1855, an d in Deerfield from 1857 on into the 
So's, is found this paper all sewed and ready for a sermon 
which was left unwritten. Upon this same table there lie, 
side by side, two little, old, leather-bound, much used, much 
marked, and well worn Bibles. The one, the study Bible 
of Dr. B. D. Griffin of Williams college, came to North 
Adams when his youngest daughter came as a bride in 
October, 1840. 

On the fly-leaf of the other is written, "Robert Crawford, 
Lanark, Upper Canada, May 9, 1826." and there is also 
recorded the following : 

"When leaving my home in Lanark, Upper Canada, 
May 9, 1826, on my first coming to the United States, my 
dear mother gave me this Bible to be my companion. 

I traveled hundreds of miles on foot and carried it in 
my pack (on my back), and I expect to part with it only 
when I am called to follow my mother to another, and I 
trust better, world." 

In these two books, which are really one, we recognize 
the source of that strength of character, that gentleness, 
beauty and loveliness of Christian disposition which made 
the public service and the home life of Dr. and Mrs. Craw- 
ford what they were. 

* Pastor of this church from August 20, 1840 to September 28, 1855. 
Born in Paisley, Scotland, November 24, 1804. Died in Clinton, Conn., 
October 26, 1896. 



1 24 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Preparation for life is often quite as suggestive a study 
as the life work itself. 

The wife (and we all know that the influence of the 
minister's wife is one of the most potent influences in shap- 
ing the minister's work) the wife, in this case, was reared 
and trained in the midst of the comforts and refinements 
of the Boston, Newark and Williamstown homes. The 
minister, in the more humble cottage of the Paisley weavers 
in Scotland, and the rougher, but I think we may say 
equally refined, log-house of the Canadian settlers. 

My father's first introduction to North Adams was when 
he came to teach the four little children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Clement Harrison. This was in the winter and spring of 
1833, when he was a freshman in Williams college. (He lived 
at the Harrison home and walked over once each day to recite 
in college.) In his diary he speaks of Mr. Harrison as a 
substantial farmer and Mrs. Harrison as a notable house- 
keeper, very sociable, and both as kind as could be. It is 
interesting to record that the writer of this is being enter- 
tained at that same hospitable home during these anniver- 
sary days. 

But after college and tutoring days were over at Wil- 
liams (by the way, my father often used to speak of a fresh- 
man whom he had the pleasure of teaching at Williams 
whose "clean, pretty face and well-learned, well-recited 
lessons always gave him pleasure." That freshman is here 
today, still hale and fresh, and we are soon to hear Dr. Bal- 
lard tell of the dedication of this church building) after 
college and tutoring days were over, after a visit of some 
months, and final preparations in making the good old 
mother comfortable with the sisters, in the Canada home, 
and after his studies in Princeton and New York (though 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 125 

he confessed that the best part of his theological instruc- 
tion had been in his father's house, where those brainy 
Paisley weavers read and discussed the great political and 
theological questions of their days), after these years of 
preparation, he was ordained as pastor of this church, 
August 20, 1840. 

The exercises of that day were as follows : Moderator, 
Rev. Dr. Shepard of Lenox ; scribe, Rev. Stillrnan Pratt of 
South Adams ; sermon, President Mark Hopkins of Wil- 
liams college; the text, Col. 1: 28 ; ordaining prayer, Rev. 
Aretas Loomis of Bennington ; charge to the pastor, Rev. 
Dr. Shepard of Lenox ; fellowship of the church, Rev. Wm. 
Bond of Lee ; concluding prayer, Rev. Tertius S. Clark of 
Stockbridge. (Thirty-nine years from that day— August 
20, 1879 — Dr. Hopkins and the son of Rev. Aretas Loomis, 
and Deacon James Hunter of this church, went over to 
Deerfield to assist Dr. Crawford in another ordination, viz., 
that of his youngest son as a missionary to Turkey.) His 
first pastoral sermon, preached on the following Sabbath, 
was from the text Rom. 11:13, "I magnify mine office." 
That evening he preached at a union service in the Metho- 
dist church. I quote from his diary : "The village of North 
Adams was not, at that time, in very high repute, either 
for morals or religion. The Sabbath was disregarded by 
many, especially of the older inhabitants, and this was a 
preconcerted effort of us ministers with a view of awaken- 
ing attention to the subject of Sabbath keeping." 

He speaks of Rev. John Alden — pastor of the Baptist 
church— as follows : " Mr. Alden met me on the street, 
soon after my coming, and thus accosted me : ' I am 
glad to welcome you here and make your acquaintance 
as a fellow laborer in the gospel. And now I want to 



1 26 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

make a proposition to you. You and I differ on the sub- 
ject of baptism. You, I suppose, have looked all over 
your ground, as I have done mine, and it would be vain to 
expect that either of us could by any argument change the 
other's views. Now my proposition is this, that we agree 
to abstain from any argument, public or private, on the 
subject. You, of course, will preach to your people respect- 
ing it when you think proper, and I will do so to mine, 
but we will not discuss the subject with one another.' " He 
adds, " I gladly assented to this proposition, and we both 
lived up to it." 

Soon after the ordination he left North Adams and 
went to Newark, N. J., to bring, after a few weeks, "the 
mistress of the manse." Passing over, in our recital today, 
the trip and visits in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we 
find them, on a Saturday morning, in Troy, just getting in- 
to the stage for North Adams. "We had" (I quote from 
his journal) "as fellow passengers in the stage, Mrs. Dr. 
Hopkins, of Williamstown, and her little son, Harry. Mrs- 
Hopkins was an old mate and friend of my wife's, and they 
had opportunity to talk over their old stories .... while I 
amused myself with the little boy, who was quite a pratt- 
ler. He is now a doctor of divinity, settled over a prominent 
Kansas City church, and is active and useful in all that 
region." Had my father lived to this day, I am sure he 
would have added another line expressing what we all feel, 
a deep sense of gratitude to God, who has brought him 
back to Williams college, where he is to make the power 
of his consecrated personality felt in touching and shaping 
the lives of the young men who study at Williams. 

This church was not so large in 1840 as it is today, 
neither was the South Adams church, which had come into 




1864 Deacon George C. Lawrence-i866 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 127 

existence only about a year before. When Rev. Mr. Pratt 
called and my mother asked him about his church, he re- 
plied : " There are four members when they are all there." 
And there was a time when Mrs. Patrick (wife of my father's 
old fellow worker in the Hoosic Falls factory) was the only 
member present, but she was a host. 

The first one to be received into this church after my 
father's arrival was Miss Anna Maria Paul. She had come 
home from her study and teaching life to die, as all her 
friends supposed, and it was upon her sick bed that she was 
received into church membership. But how many of us 
are able to rejoice that she did not die, but recovered, to 
make so many lives happier and better because of her in- 
fluence. 

There was no parsonage in those days, and when in 
1844, after some unpleasant experiences in house renting, 
the Penniman house (then one of the newest and finest in 
the village) was secured, it proved a delightful home for 
eleven years. My father's only objection was "that it might 
excite remarks or jealousy on the part of some," but this 
objection was over-ruled by the wise and good workers in 
the church. 

My father speaks of the pleasure and profit he derived 
from attending the ministerial associations, church confer- 
ences, Sunday School conventions, etc. He speaks especi- 
ally of a Sunday School convention held in Pittsfield in 
1849, to which some 1700 children and adults from Wil- 
liamstown and North and South Adams went on a special 
train. 

He had prepared for one of the ministers' meetings a 
paper on "the condition of those who die in infancy." He 
little thought that on the following Sabbath he should be 



128 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

called upon to repeat this paper, to comfort Deacon and 
Mrs. McLellan in the death of their youngest child, nor 
that his own youngest daughter was to be snatched sudden- 
ly away from him that very evening. 

In speaking of his ministerial brethren, he refers to 
exchanges made with them. It always pleased him to hear 
his people say, " Well, that man gave us a good sermon," 
but he was considerably amused when Mr. Quincy Rob- 
inson met him one Monday morning and said: "That 
minister ought to have given some boot with his ex- 
change." 

In the preparation of his sermons he had not only his 
own high ideal of what sermons should be, but he had 
the inspiration of knowing that the people of this church 
had not only been used to hearing, but that they could ap- 
preciate, good sermons ; and from what I know of his work, 
and from what I have heard the people say, I feel sure that 
he gave them good sermons. They were certainly sound ; 
they were sincere ; they were earnest, well thought out and 
well expressed. He spent, perhaps, more time than is 
usual on the formation of his sentences, so that the style of 
his writing was peculiarly good. 

He confessed that when he first came here and found 
how much the people loved and admired Dr. Russell, who 
had immediately preceded him, he was at first inclined to 
be a little jealous of all the good things that were continu- 
ally being said. But one day the happy thought came to 
him, "If this people appreciated Dr. Yeomans' and Dr. 
Russell's sermons, I will give them good sermons. If they 
were capable of loving them, they will love me." And 
they did. In his diary he afterwards writes, " I loved that 
people, every one of them." And I think the other minis- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 1 29 

ters of this church who are here today will bear me out in 
saying that there was no one more cordial to them, no one 
more appreciative of their work, than was he, who was 
ever so ready to commit to them the church and the people 
of his first love. 

It has always been noticed that North Adams people 
love their ministers and the ministers love them, and the 
good mother church welcomes them all as a band of broth- 
ers whenever they come back. 

Were there time today, it would be pleasant to read 
from his journal, of many touching and interesting inci- 
dents of church and parish life, of talks and visits with 
individuals and families, of neighborhood meetings in the 
Notch, the Beaver, and up on Florida mountain. Neither 
trained nurses nor modern microbes had been discovered 
in those days, and the pastor was expected to call on diph- 
theria, scarlet fever and even small pox cases, and to take 
his turn in watching with the sick, and all this was a part 
of his work, and these were the open doors whereby he 
found entrance to the hearts of the people. 

In summing up his life work, it does seem to be ex- 
pressed in those wonderful words of Paul in II Cor. 3:18, 
(Revised version) u We all with unveiled face, reflecting as 
in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the 
same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the 
Spirit." 

His life work, his great purpose, his joy seemed to be 
to reflect and show forth the character and the glory of 
Christ Jesus his Lord, and he was certainly transformed 
into His image. 




Rev. Addison Ballard 
i865-Supply-i866 



The Dedication of the Present Church 



Pittsfieed, Mass., June 8, 1902. 
To Mrs. Jennie Paue Goodrich, 

North Adams, Mass. 

Dear Mrs. Goodrich : — It is due to your request and 
to the hint which your better remembrance gave me of 
what I had myself utterly forgotten, that I was able to re- 
peat at your Diamond Jubilee some things I said at the 
dedication, September 6, 1865, of your newly-erected and 
beautiful house of worship. The substance of what I then 
said is as follows : 

On leaving my home in Williamstown on my way 
hither I at once came upon the buildings of Williams col- 
lege. Those I looked upon as standing for the whole great 
and greatly important work of education. I next came to 
the busy and thriving woolen mills of Blackinton. Those 
I took as representing the entire vast and varied manu- 
facturing interests of the world. Passing these I soon had 
in view the agricultural fair grounds of northern Berk- 
shire. These told of the pains taken to better furnish the 
world's food supply by improved methods of husbandry. 
The last stage of my journey brought me to this happily- 
completed building which is now to be reverentially set 
apart for the worship of God and for Christian fellowship 
and instruction. 

It is by this last that all which we had passed before 
is crowned and glorified. To have stopped short at any 



132 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

point on our way hitherward would have been to leave all 
our other work in life open to the charge of incomplete- 
ness ; would have been to neglect putting its capital on the 
pillar, to fit its keystone to the arch. Without this, agri- 
culture, manufactures, commerce, finance, art and educa- 
tion would make of man only a more intelligent, highly 
cultivated animal — an animal, too, in a physical sense no 
more abundantly, though more anxiously, provided for 
than are the lower orders of the animal creation. Granted 
that it is much to have these bodies of ours well nourished, 
comfortably clothed and snugly housed, we are yet slow to 
accept these as the great objects of our life's endeavor, when 
we consider the fowls of the air ; how they soar, and sing 
as they soar, above all our toil of sowing, reaping and 
gathering into barns ; when we see how the lilies of the 
field out-dress even the most gloriously-arrayed of kings ; 
how the fox is securely sheltered in his hole and the oriole 
in her nest. We did not stop short, however, but bringing 
up all that is below with us, we have come rejoicingly to 
this house and to all that higher good for which it stands 
— communion by prayer, and penitential love and thanks- 
giving, with the God of all our mercies, and fellowship with 
one another as His children to whom alike is extended the 
promise both of the life that now is and of that which is 
to come. 

Sincerely yours, 

Addison Ballard. 



Greetings from Our City 



Rev. John C. Tebbetts 
Rector St. John's Episcopal Church 

This community should be very grateful to the mind 
that originated the thought of this celebration, and to the 
pastor and his aids, who have put it into execution. For 
it is given an opportunity to express its appreciation of a 
religious society which for more than two generations has 
been an important part of its own very life. 

It would be sad to think what the history of North 
Adams would have been but for this corporate body of 
Christian believers and workers under the leadership of its 
faithful and true pastors. The people who have composed 
it might, indeed, have found a place under other forms of 
the Christian faith, and thus have given of their strength 
to the public good, but not exactly in the same way, 
perhaps not in the same degree, in which they have done 
it. The garden of Eden would not have been quite the 
same place it was but for the river that became parted into 
four heads, and in that manner flowed through and out of 
it. Nor would this community be what it is but for the 
spiritual and moral irrigation which these pure waters of 
the Congregational faith and fellowship have supplied. 

I do not know that any community, such as this, can 
fully understand the value to itself of its half-dozen chief 
citizens who take a leading part in directing its steps and 
in fashioning its corporate existence. Much less can it 
realize the debt it owes to the religious societies which 
have a liberal hand in fashioning the lives of thousands of 
its citizens, and in forming its social and civic character. 
God alone, who is working out his own present and eternal 



i 3 4 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

purposes for the good of human society, can fully under- 
stand this. 

But that this church, under God, has put this entire 
community under bonds of gratitude and respect will be 
freely acknowledged by all. Not to speak of its individual 
members, past or present, who have received their social 
and religious training here, and who have been as lights to 
their generation, this church in its corporate capacity has 
exercised an influence for the public weal such as none 
other has done. This every Christian body, which doth 
not lift up its mind unto vanity, must concede. True to 
its location, it has been the cathedral, the centre and seat 
of many a beneficence which has extended far beyond its 
own metes and bounds. It has taken a foremost place in 
establishing and maintaining works of charity and of 
mercy. It has cultivated and encouraged fellowship 
among Christians of whatever name. It has stood for the 
exercise of liberal thought in the interpretation of Biblical 
truth, while remaining steadfast to the common, funda- 
mental principles of Christianity. It has not been afraid 
to recognize and to adopt from other sources ideas and 
practices which have been found useful in common 
worship and in extending the kingdom of God and His 
Christ. And it has given to others of that which in its 
own faith and order has proved helpful to the same end. 

Therefore it is that we gather gladly here with greet- 
ings of affection and esteem from every quarter, and we say 
with one heart and mind, God be praised for this Congre- 
gational church and for the place she has so worthily 
filled. And though she has passed the period of three- 
score years and ten, may she, through the infusion of 
young blood, continue, with unabated vigor, to lift up the 
standard of the cross, win multitudes of souls to Jesus 
Christ and prove a still greater blessing to this community 
in the years that are yet to come. 



Greetings from the Parent Church 



Rev. Willis H. Butler 
I regret that Dr. Bascom can not be here in person to 
speak himself, as my own recollections do not date back 
from the remote past. Moreover it is a hard matter to fur- 
nish any responsible statistics about our church in the old 
days, as the old records were destroyed by fire in i860. We 
have men in the parish with good memories, however, and 
the records that they give us all point to an honorable 
history. The old white meeting house on the hill was a 
centre of spiritual influence and a landmark for many years. 
There many a student heard eloquent words from good 
preachers that influenced him to better himself in his future 
life. During the most memorable period of the old church, 
when Rev. Ralph Gridley was the pastor, 600 names 
were added to the church register, and it was at this time 
that the church in North Adams was established. This 
was a period noted for its strength of spirit in church work 
in the whole parish. While the parent church looks with 
enviable pride upon its child, yet it does not take all the 
credit to itself, as perhaps it was because the young church 
had the courage to depart from the old ways and take a new 
start that it got its great growth and influence. It is 
natural for us to suppose that we are on the decline in Wil- 
liamstown, as in a few years we celebrate our 150th anni- 
versary, yet we prefer to regard it as a starting point, and 
we confidently look forward to an even more progressive 
future for the Congregational churches of North Adams 
and Williamstown. 



Greetings from the Fostering College 



President Henry Hopkins, D. D. 

I have every reason to feel most warmly toward this 
church and the congregation, not only because they once felt 
moved to call me to this noble succession of men, but also be- 
cause of many other acts of kindness and good fellowship, 
as I have come here from time to time. I do not know but 
it is possible to trace the connection between the college 
and this church further back than has been mentioned. 
There is a tablet sacred to the memory of Ephraim Wil- 
liams in the chapel at Williamstown, and it is recorded on 
this tablet that he was stationed at Fort Massachusetts. I 
remember Edward Everett saying at the college when 
speaking of this that the women of the Connecticut valley 
clasped their infants closer to their bosoms when they 
heard that Fort Massachusetts was in danger. It is 
reasonable to suppose that while he was there he con- 
ceived the thought of benefiting this especial part of the 
community by his plan for education. He had in mind, 
not only Williamstown, but this whole valley west of the 
Hoosac mountain as the part of the county to which he 
devoted his accumulated property. 

I have been exceedingly interested in the history that 
I have heard of the first pastor of this church. There was 
certainly a touch of real heroism in his life that he should 
have without remuneration maintained his ministry here 
so long ; that he should while a teacher in the college have 
constantly attended upon his religious duties here, seeking 



138 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

in absolute self-sacrifice to help men to the better life ; 
that he should have himself gone about to secure funds for 
the erection of the building. This is certainly a record of 
rare worth, and I believe that he left behind something of 
his inspiration and faith and strength of purpose to those 
with whom he was associated yonder at the college. I have 
learned with great interest tonight that he was a classmate 
of my own father and that the succeeding pastor was a 
classmate of my uncle, and I have found that in the suc- 
ceeding pastors of the church there were several who were 
Williams men. Dr. Crawford, Rev. Mr. Ballard, Washing- 
ton Gladden and Lewellyn Pratt were among the honored 
alumni, and I think that upon Dr. Coyle and upon Dr. 
Hunger were degrees conferred by the college. 

Aside from this, I am sure that if we could have had 
the records at our disposal for the settlement as well as the 
dismissal of a pastor, we should find that other men from 
the college have been here. They have preached sermons, 
they have given the charge to the pastor and there has 
been a close and very real connection. I am here tonight, 
not to recall historical facts, for I have not the historical 
information at my command, but I am here with a very 
joyful heart to bring you the greetings of the college, and 
it is a great gratification to me that one of the first acts in 
my new position should be the expression of good neighbor- 
hood feeling, and that I am permitted to have a small part 
in this wonderful birthday occasion — in this expression of 
confirmed and renewed fellowship; and it will be my 
desire and purpose that the past history shall be verified 
and continued in time to come. 

As I was coming into the church this evening, a man 
said : "The present pastor is a good fellow and a westerner." 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 139 

I confess (turning to Mr. Tenney) that this commended 
you to me. I have not lived twenty-two years in the great 
valley of the Missouri without becoming a western man. 
I have not left my heart in the west, but the time will 
never come when I shall not share the great hopes and 
purposes of that great central region, and tonight I feel a 
little warmer to you because you are a western man. 
(Then addressing the audience) I hope I shall see your 
faces often and shall hope and pray that there may be as 
in the past the best and most helpful fellowship between 
the college and the church here in North Adams. 






















i866-Rev. Washington GLADDEN-1871 



Witnesses of the Light 



Rev. Washington Gladden, D. D. 

In the mystical proem of the Fourth Gospel we read 
of one who came for witness, that he might bear witness 
of the light. You do not forget the connection in which 
these familiar words occur. The writer is speaking of the 
Logos — the word — the expression or manifestation of the 
divine thought and life. 

From the beginning God has been manifesting Him- 
self. Self-revelation is the law of His nature. It is only 
another way of saying that God is light, and that is an- 
other way of saying that God is love. This manifestation 
has had many forms, but the heavenly radiance was con- 
centrated in Him who called Himself the Light of the 
World, and who declared that His mission was to reveal 
the Father. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light 
of men. And the Light shineth in the darkness, and the 
darkness apprehended it not. 

The inability of men to receive the revelation thus 
vouchsafed them is the one tragedy of the universe. The 
misery of the world today is not so much the unwilling- 
ness to give good gifts as the inability to receive them. 
That proposition may reverse our customary thinking, but 
reflection will verify it. 

Begin at the beginning. Is not God Himself infinite 
Love? Is there any good gift that He would withhold 
from any of His children ? Why are so many of them in 



142 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

destitution and misery? Must it not be because they are 
in some way incapable of receiving what He waits to be- 
stow upon them ? 

Here is Mother Earth with her lap full of riches. Why 
are any of her children poor? Simply because they are 
unable to take what she wants to give them. It is true 
that this inability is not alway£ wholly the fault of the in- 
dividual ; the misdoing of one often cripples another ; bur- 
den and incapacity are entailed ; heredity and environ- 
ment play their part ; nevertheless, it holds true that God 
and Nature are ready to provide man with every comfort 
and delight of life, and that it is man's inability to receive 
the good of life which is the cause of all his worst priva- 
tions and distresses. 

In more intimate and personal ways we often feel the 
truth that the good givers are not so rare as the willing 
and intelligent receivers. What is the cause of the deep- 
est trouble between parents and children? It is not 
in so many cases the unwillingness of the parents to 
give good gifts to their children as it is the unwillingness 
of the children to receive them. Doubtless there is often 
great unwisdom on the part of parents ; many of those 
whose resources are abundant do not know how to impart 
what they possess ; but those who are wise and patient and 
self-denying often find it very hard to get their children to 
take at their hands the good of life. The real trouble is 
not, as our Lord intimates, that when children cry for 
bread their parents give them a stone, or that when they 
beg for fish they receive scorpions ; it is rather that they 
so often insist on having the stones and the scorpions when 
their parents are eager to give them nourishing food. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 143 

Much of the same experience is shared by those who 
engage in any kind of philanthropic work. If people who 
need help would let us help them, if they were willing to 
be helped, we could do far more for them, in the vast ma- 
jority of cases, than we are able to do. Our greatest diffi- 
culty is with those who are not willing to take the kind of 
assistance that they most need, and who clearly wish to 
have us bestow upon them that which we know would in- 
jure them more than it would profit them. They do not 
wish to be helped ; they wish to be pampered and degraded. 

Putting it all together we shall see that the trouble of 
the world is due far more to the lack of ability and willing- 
ness to receive the good of life than to the lack of ability 
and willingness to bestow it. And this was surely true of 
those to whom the Light of the world sought to impart His 
divine radiance. The record of the gospels shows us on 
every page the light shining in the darkness and the dark" 
ness apprehending it not. If only the minds of those 
people had been receptive of the truth, proper media for 
the transmission of the light, how soon the world could 
have been transformed by its life-giving energy ! 

For this fatal inability the writer of the Fourth Gospel 
hints at a remedy. There was a man sent from God whose 
name was John. The same came for a witness that he 
might bear witness of the light that all might believe 
through him. 

"To bear witness of the Light." Is not this indeed a 
superfluous function ? Is not light its own sufficient wit- 
ness? Is there need that any one should go around calling 
attention to the sun in the heavens at noon, or to the 
dazzling arc light that hangs over the street at night? 
No, it is not a superfluous function. There is a great deal 



144 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

of this kind of work to do. Not only is there sometimes 
need that the light be kindled and its flame kept burning ; 
not only is there need that it be set in a candlestick and 
carried aloft that men may see it ; there is also need that 
testimony be borne to it by those who have beheld its glory 
and have learned to walk in it ; there must be witnesses of 
the light by whose evidence its radiance shall be made 
serviceable to benighted souls. 

For it must not be forgotten that there are still great 
numbers of people sitting in darkness, not because the true 
light is not shining, but because they have immured them- 
selves in cellars or dungeons or caverns where its pure ray 
cannot reach them. It is quite possible for a man to put 
himself where he cannot see the light, and thus to become, 
after a while, unaware and even incredulous of its existence. 
To such as these, witnesses must be sent who will bear 
testimony that it is shining and lead the benighted out 
into its beauty and gladness. 

The writer of the Fourth Gospel says that this was the 
work of John the Baptist. The Light of the world was 
shining then with marvellous power, in the cities of 
Galilee and the streets of Jerusalem, but the people to 
whom John spoke were so shut into their own narrow 
ecclesiasticism that they could not behold it. There is no 
cavern darker than that in which the bigot hides, whether 
he be a religious bigot or an irreligious bigot. You know 
some whose ideas are so encased in traditional orthodoxy 
that no new light ever finds entrance to their minds ; and 
you know some who advertise themselves as the most 
liberal of the liberals, who are wholly incapable of seeing 
or telling the truth about the people whom they spend 
their lives in misrepresenting and berating. The worst 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 145 

bigots I have ever known have been men who hated the 
churches so bitterly that their hatred made them stone 
blind. It matters not of what the walls of prejudice are 
built — whether of affirmations or negations — if they are so 
opaque and windowless that truth cannot pierce them, 
there is need that those who dwell within them should 
somehow learn of the ampler heaven that is above them 
and of the light that fills it. There is many a traditional- 
ist and there is many an agnostic, who has shut himself 
into his own narrow enclosure, and supposes that the wis- 
dom of the universe is all mewed up with him in that 
small compartment where he keeps his pet beliefs or dis- 
beliefs. The breaking of this shell is the most merciful 
thing that can happen to him. This was the service which 
John the Baptist rendered to the men of his generation. 
With a rude hand he smote the Pharasaic conceit and ar- 
rogance. "Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee 
from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits 
worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, 
we have Abraham to our father, for I say unto you that 
God is able of these stones to raise up children unto 
Abraham. And even now is the axe also laid unto the 
root of the trees ; every tree therefore that bringeth not 
forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." 

Such fierce invective may have been deserved by these 
smug and self-righteous religionists. They might never 
have come out into the light, if their refuges of pride and 
formality had not been demolished. 

It was no wonder that this relentless preacher brought 
them to their knees with the cry "What then must we 
do?" Then was his time to point them to the Light of the 
world ; to testify of One coming after him who should 



146 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire. There is 
no doubt that the testimony of John had a powerful effect 
in turning the attention of the people to Jesus, and in 
opening their eyes to see in Him the Prince of Life and the 
Savior of the world. His witness to the light was needed 
by those who had wrapped themselves in the darkness of a 
traditional formalism ; it brought a good many of them out 
of their hiding places into the daylight of a living faith. 

Whether the objurgatory methods of this witness 
would beseem your lips or mine may be doubted. Jesus 
said that John was the greatest of the prophets, but that the 
least in the Kingdom of Heaven was greater than he. 
Perhaps He meant that the clumsiest persuasion, born of 
love, is stronger than the most polished and stinging 
invective, born of wrath. At any rate it is not for us to 
resort to violence of speech in our testimony. Whatever 
may have been John's justification for his severity of 
speech, you and I are not required, as witnesses of the 
Light, to resort to similar methods. Yet there are many, 
all about us, whose minds are immured in traditionalism 
and formalism and intellectual pride and religious and irre- 
ligious prejudice, and who need nothing so much, for the 
correction even of their intellectual defects, as to learn what 
Matthew Arnold calls the method and the spirit of Jesus ; 
to breathe in His gentleness and sweet reasonableness. To 
come out of their narrowness into His breadth, out of their 
dogmatism into His catholicity, would be indeed like com- 
ing from darkness into light. And somehow, we ought to 
help them to find this light. We ought to be able to show 
them that there is a kind of life which makes men broader 
minded and fairer minded ; which teaches them to rejoice 
in truth wherever the}- find it, and to praise goodness who- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 147 

ever practises it. To convince them that the Christian 
life is such a life as that would be to bear witness to the 
Light in the most effectual way. 

But the Light needs witnesses, not only because of the 
bigotry and obscurantism of multitudes, but also because of 
the fact that its first appearance is often faint, and not 
easily discerned. The psalmist tells us that "light is sown 
for the righteous," and the germination of this seed, like 
that of every other, begins in feebleness : 

Behold a sower ! from afar 

He goeth forth with might ; 
The rolling years his furrows are, 

His seed the growing light. 
For all the righteous it is sown, 

It springeth up alway ; 
The tender blade is hope's young dawn, 

The harvest love's new day. 

There is need, therefore, of witnesses who can see the 
beginnings of this beautiful growth and teach men to dis- 
cern them and rejoice in them. Our own great Congrega- 
tional protagonist, John Robinson, who is known to but 
few of us as he deserves to be known, has left one prophetic 
word which we have all heard, — " I am persuaded that God 
has more light yet to break forth out of His Holy Word." 
But this breaking forth of light from the Word which was 
written on parchment, and the Word which was written in 
rocks and leaves and constellations, is not in full bursts of 
splendor ; it comes to us in faint streaks and glimmering 
twilights. " Hope's young dawn " is always the forerunner 
of "love's new day." And, if we can keep our metaphors, 
for whose mixture I am not responsible, from getting too 
much mixed, it will be well to remember that in these 
germinant dawns, which spring from the light that is sown 
for the righteous, there is danger that the tender blade be 



148 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

trampled under heedless feet or plucked up and thrown 
away for worthless weeds. 

The gradualness of revelation is a fact which is illus- 
trated not merely in the Bible but still more abundantly in 
the perennial unfoldings of God's truth. The history of 
doctrine and of morals shows how constantly the thoughts 
of men are widened and their standards of conduct elevated. 
We find it difficult to put ourselves in the places of men of 
past ages and judge their conduct justly, because our regu- 
lative principles of conduct are so different from theirs ; the 
ethical evolution has carried us far from their point of 
view. Abraham and Deborah deserved praise for acts and 
sentiments which would be infamous if we practised them 
or uttered them ; they were faithfully living by the best 
light they had. Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards 
expressed ideas which to us are horrible because the larger 
ethical conceptions of the Kingdom of God had not 
dawned upon them. New words, and new definitions of 
old words, here and there appearing through the centuries, 
mark the advance of moral and spiritual ideas. Max 
Muller, I think it is, has said that Plato and Aristotle never 
used any such word as "mankind", — that the conception 
which it conveys was foreign to their minds. Take a word 
so familiar as justice, as it was used by Augustine and 
Calvin and Edwards it had a very different connotation 
from that given to it by Bushnell or Brooks or Martineau. 
It has become evident that a mere compensatory measuring 
of equivalents is not justice ; that as between man and 
man, and not less between God and man, there can be no 
justice which is not mixed with love, since the primal debt 
of father to child, of child to father, of brother to brother, 
is the debt of love, and he who gets no love gets less than 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ai^g 

is due him. We now know that, simply because God is 
just, he cannot do the kind of things which not long ago 
he was represented as doing "to the praise of His glorious 
justice." 

The development of ethical ideals and of spiritual con- 
ceptions is constantly going forward ; the providential 
training of the race keeps this end constantly in view ; by 
all the overturnings of the peoples, by all the discoveries 
of science, by all the collision and pressure of economic 
forces, the thoughts of men are elevated and their stand- 
ards of judgment are corrected. " This orderly march of 
humanity toward spiritual perfection, " says Mr. Pike, " is 
the highest evidence that there is a divine meaning in the 
world and that, in keeping with it,man is growing constantly 
nearer the time when that God whom he has so long 
known and in part shall be more perfectly apprehended. 
The conception of man as reflecting God in his own na- 
ture, implies a succession of stages in which this conscious- 
ness shall work itself free as the constructive power of his 
life. Inasmuch as this is a process in history it is not nec- 
essary that man in the beginning should be more than 
capable of God. Under appropriate conditions, however, 
this latent power will be evoked, the obscure will become 
intelligible, and under the influence of divine fellowship 
and instruction, man will attain unto increasing conscious- 
ness of God. All theories which ground the idea of God 
in ancestor worship, nature worship, dreams and similar 
phenomena, utterly fail in presence of the indisputable 
truth that the religious instinct and the conception of God 
grow in strength, clearness and nobility in proportion as 
the race grows away from the obscurities and limitations 
and undeveloped conditions of the primitive state of society 



1 50a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

in which are found the materials whereon such theories 
depend. This observed progress finds its simplest explan- 
ation in the idea of a vital relationship between God and 
man, wherein man is being gradually led by the spirit of 
God to ever growing capacity to receive the continuous 
revelation which God is evermore making. " 

It is this fact that revelation is continuous and pro- 
gressive which calls for a constant succession of Witnesses 
of the Light. Paul, the apostle, going forth with the mes- 
sage of the gospel to the Jews that are scattered through 
Syria and Asia, finds an unexpected preparation in the 
minds of the Gentiles for the truth which he has to pro- 
claim. They seem to think that this gospel is for them 
also ; that they need pardon and help and comfort not 
less than them that are of the house of Israel. And Paul 
is quick to discern the significance of this fact. It had 
been revealed to Peter also, by a miracle, but Peter's mind 
was hardly large enough to take it in and hold it fast ; he 
seems to have grasped it for a little and then to have let 
it go. But Paul is able to receive it. His clear vision dis- 
cerns a new light breaking forth out of God's holy word, 
and his heart burns within him to tell of the dispensation 
of the grace of God which has been given to him, — how 
that by revelation has been made known to him the long 
hidden mystery, " to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, 
and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of 
the promise in Jesus Christ through the gospel. " That 
was the day-spring from on high which had appeared in 
Paul's horizon, and at once he becomes the witness of the 
new light which he has seen. "Unto me, " he cries, "who 
am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to 
preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y ai 5 1 

and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the 
mystery which from all ages hath been hid in God who 
created all things. " There is no passage in the letters of 
this great-hearted apostle more eloquent than that in which 
he pours forth his thanksgiving for the grace of God vouch- 
safed to him in permitting him to be the herald of the 
dawn of this new dispensation, in which the middle wall 
of partition between Jews and Gentiles is broken down, 
and the Christians are no longer a Jewish sect but mem- 
bers of the universal household of God. 

It was a great reform — the greatest perhaps, as yet, in 
the history of the church ; and it was wrought through 
the consistent witnessing of this apostle to the Light 
whose dawning he had clearly seen. 

What Paul discovered was the preparation of the Gen- 
tiles for the reception of the Gospel of Christ. That the 
spirit of truth was opening their minds to receive the gos- 
pel w r as evident to him, and it was good logic which con- 
vinced him that the same spirit of truth ought to be open- 
ing the hearts of apostles to give them the gospel, without 
waiting for any. 

The Spirit which at the beginning moved upon the 
elemental chaos saying "Let there be light," has ever since 
been moving upon the great deep of humanity, and in the 
days which have been darkest and most hopeless signs of 
His presence have always been appearing. When, in the 
fourteenth century, the tyrannies of ecclesiasticism were 
heaviest, Wyclif caught the first gleam of the returning 
light of reason, and reflected it in his brave witnessing. 
The light was there ; it was dawning in the minds and 
consciences of the people ; Wyclif did not create it ; he 
saw it and hailed it, and helped others to see it. When, in 



152a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

the sixteenth century the revolt of reason and conscience 
against sacerdotal superstitions began to stir the souls of 
men, it was Luther and Zwingli and Erasmus and Colet 
who saw and heralded the rising day. And when, in a 
generation whose passing has been witnessed by some of 
us, the rigors of an immoral Calvanism became oppres- 
sive to the moral sense, and a fatalistic gloom was settling 
upon the churches, the Spirit which in the beginning 
moved upon the face of the waters kindled in the hearts of 
men a larger hope, and Channing and Taylor and Beecher 
and Bushnell bore witness to the light which they had seen 
and helped to banish forever those shadows of a loveless 
fate from the hearts of men. 

I have only singled out a few faces from the great 
cloud of witnesses of the light who in all the generations 
have been quick to see the dawning of loftier thoughts 
and higher ideals. The more closely we study their rela- 
tions to the times in which they lived, the clearer it will 
appear to us that the forward movements with which they 
were identified were made ready by the Spirit of life which 
is always brooding over humanity and by whose informing 
touch light springs up in the darkness. We sometimes call 
such men epoch-makers, — they are rather epoch markers. 
They did not kindle the light, they saw it and rejoiced in 
it, and taught others to behold it. 

And the one truth for you and me to lay hold upon 
and make central in our thinking is that God who is Light 
is in His world today ; that there has never been an hour 
when He was nearer to human minds and human hearts 
than He is now ; that He is revealing Himself today far 
more clearly than He could reveal Himself to the men of 
ten centuries ago or of fortv centuries aeo ; that new lieht 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y ai 53 

is all the while breaking forth from His word, and from 
His works, and that it is yonr business and mine to discern 
it and walk in it and help our fellow men to see it. " Ye 
are my witnesses, saith the Lord." That was the word to 
the prophets of old ; is it not our commission also? 

To what are we to bear witness? To the traditions 
which we have received from our fathers ? Yea, verily, for 
many of them are precious and inspiring- traditions ; their 
truth has been verified by the experience of generations ; 
their promise is fulfilled in our own time. Poor and barren 
must be the lives of those who have received from the past 
no legacies of truth which they treasure, no messages of 
hope which they can transmit. Not all that is traditional 
in doctrine and form and use can be carried over into the 
new day, for always there is much that decayeth and waxeth 
old and is ready to vanish away. Not all of last year's 
growth is in the fields and on the branches today ; the 
leaves and straw and chaff of last summer have returned to 
the earth from which the}^ came ; but the life that they 
nourished is here, making the world fruitful and beautiful 
in the springtime. Nature knows how to treasure the 
grain and bury the chaff, and we must learn her lesson. 

From the past we have received a most precious de- 
posit of tradition. The truth that was revealed to proph- 
ets and apostles, the symbols in which their faith was ex- 
pressed, the customs in which it was enshrined, the songs 
and prayers in which it found voice, are worthy of our 
reverence. We may not be able to use them all, but they 
are all sacred, because of the life of which they have been 
the embodiment, and many of them can never grow old. 
There is much that we share with the ages gone by for 
which we forevermore give thanks. But our God is a liv- 



154a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

ing God ; He worketh hitherto, and He worketh now and 
evermore ; behold He maketh all things new ! New 
leaves upon the branches, new bloom in the borders, new 
grasses in the meadows, new lambs in the pastures, new 
nurslings in the nests, new life in all the world ! Is it 
only in the life of thought, the life of the spirit, that all 
forms are petrified, all movement arrested? No, the law 
of growth is verified in the phenomena of this realm also ; 
old things are passing away, all things are becoming new. 
This year is not last year in the world of thought any 
more than in the woods and the fields. This century is 
not the eighteenth century in theology and philosophy any 
more than in machinery. The increasing purpose which 
runs through the ages runs not through the material realms 
alone ; it is trie thoughts of men that are widened with the 
process of the sun. This time is not the time of Augus- 
tine or Calvin or John Robinson ; nay, it is not even the 
time of Taylor or Park or Finney ; how is it that ye do not 
discern this time? It is not alone the light that broke 
forth from God's holy word in Lutterworth or in Scrooby 
or in Northampton of which you are to be witnesses and 
heralds ; it is the light that is breaking forth today. Yea, 
from God's holy word — from the Book that we call by 
that name — the light is breaking forth today. It is a dif- 
ferent Book from that which Taylor quoted and Finne}' in- 
terpreted and Park expounded ; it stands transfigured to- 
day in a new light that shines from its own pages. It is a 
greater Book than it ever was before — less magical than 
once, but more wonderful ; less preternatural, but more 
spiritual ; less of a wand to conjure with and more of a 
sword to fight with and a staff to lean upon. The change 
which has taken place in men's thoughts about the Bible 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y ai 55 

has resulted from abandoning the apriori theories which 
men have made out of their own heads about the Bible 
and going directly to the Bible itself and letting it tell its 
own story. But the change has taken place. The at- 
tempt to ignore it or deny it is stupidity — or worse. It is 
a different kind of Book from what it was once supposed to 
be ; it cannot be used as it once was used ; it must be used 
in another way. Intelligent men of this generation who 
try to use it as intelligent men were using it in the last 
generation will simply stultify themselves and imperil the 
souls of those whom they misguide ; the light that is in the 
Book and in them will be darkness, and how great will be 
that darkness ? But there is light in the Book, now ; it is 
full of light ; there is more light in it than there ever was 
before ; there must be, for we know the truth about it now 
as we never knew it before, and when we know the truth 
about it we must surely be better fitted to find the truth 
that is in it. The truth is in it — The Truth. It holds for 
us, just as securely as it ever held, the record of the life of 
Him who is The Truth. There is the Light ; behold it, 
rejoice in it, bear witness to it ! 

I have spoken of our function as witnesses of the 
growing light of this new day. Let me speak now, for a 
little while, more familiarly of a service which is more 
personal and domestic, of our dispensation of the truth of 
the gospel to souls that are in darkness and in the shadow 
of death. To them also we must be witnesses of the Light 
that lighteth every man coming into the world. We 
ought to keep the eyes of men open to the meaning of the 
days in which they live ; but we shall find many to whom 
these larger questions are of subordinate import, because 
they are involved in personal struggles that banish the 



1 56a SB VENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

light from their sky. There will always be those near us 
who will be oppressed with the sense of their own weak- 
nesses and failures and shortcomings ; who have fought 
with the inbred sin and been defeated again and again ; 
who have lost heart in the conflict with their own worse 
natures and have sat gloomily down, despondent if not 
despairing, or are weakly drifting on the current of their 
own lower impulses. We often find such souls among us, 
those in whom the purposes of virtue have grown less 
strenuous, whose ideals have been dimmed, and whose life, 
though outwardly cheerful enough, is gradually being 
overshadowed with a darkness that may be felt. It is a 
bitter experience. If you or I know any who are sitting in 
this shadow, we ought to rejoice in our commission as wit- 
nesses of the light To them we ought to be able to carry 
the good tidings that there is help and deliverance for 
them, since there is One who has said, " He that followeth 
Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
life.' 1 This is the gospel of the grace of God with which 
we are put in trust. There ought to be no such clouded 
spirits among those who know us well enough to believe 
our word. 

Others there are to whom the darkness has become a 
habitation on account of sorrow which has blotted from 
their da}- the sun and from their night the stars. How 
many there have been in all the generations to whom the 
plaint of Job has been the voice of their deepest experience : 

" Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, 
And life unto the bitter in soul ? 
Which long for death but it cometh not, 
And dig for it, more than for hid treasures , 
Which rejoice exceedingly 
And are glad when they can find the grave ? 
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, 
And whom God hath hedged in ? " 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ai 57 

From none of the children of men is this cup wholly 

witheld ; losses, disappointments, the failure of friendships, 

the desolation of homes, some or all of these things happen 

to all of us . 

" The fool hath said, " There is no God, 
But none, there is no sorrow." 

And there are times when the sense of this desolation 
is so quick and keen that hope departs from life and we 
cry: 

" O Sorrow, cruel fellowship, 

O Priestess in the vaults of death : 

O sweet and bitter in a breath, 
What answers from thy lying- lip ? 

" 'The stars,' she answers, 'blindly run; 

A web is woven across the sky ; 

From out waste places comes a cry 
And murmurs from the dying: sun. 

" ' And all the phantom, Nature, stands 

With all her music in her tone, 

A hollow echo of my own, 
A hollow form with empty hands.' " 

Now to all those who are thus overwhelmed by trouble, 
to souls sitting dumb in the darkness of a great affliction, 
we ought to be able to go as witnesses of the light. What 
is the gospel with which we are put in trust, if it is not 
the assurance that they who mourn shall be comforted? 
That servant of Jehovah, whom the old prophet invests 
with all the attributes of the divine humanity, is repre- 
sented as proclaiming his advent in these words : 

" The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the 
Lord hath annointed me to preach good tidings unto the 
meek ; He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted ; 
— to comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto them that 
mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes ; the 



158a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit 
of heaviness. " 

If God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, then 
darkness must not be the habitation of any of His chil- 
dren. If God is love, if all things are working together 
for good to His children, then there can not be any incon- 
solable grief in the heart of one who believes in him. 
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. If we be- 
lieve in God at all this is what we must believe. If there 
is a Father in heaven, there ought to be no hopeless mourn- 
ing on the earth. Myriads of things will happen that we 
cannot explain, but we know that nothing happens with- 
out His knowledge, and that out of the sorest of our suf- 
ferings some fruit of good is growing. 

" Evil is only the slave of good, 

Sorrow the servant of joy. 
And the soul is mad that refuses food 

Of the meanest in God's employ : 

" The fountain of joy is fed by tears, 

And love is lit by the breath of sighs, 
The deepest griefs and the wildest fears 
Have holiest ministries. " 

This is the Christian interpretation of trouble, and 
part of our business in the world is to lead our fellow men 
into the light of these great hopes. We ought to know 
these things so well that we shall be able to make others 
believe them. We ought to be able to comfort others with 
the comfort wherewith we have been comforted of God. 
That is the method of the divine economy. No good gift 
is bestowed on any man for his exclusive use ; all good 
gifts are to be shared. Those who rejoice in the light must 
be witnesses of the light. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 3159 

One more suggestion comes to us from the word that 
gives us this commission. It is to those who stand upon 
the heights that the dawn comes soonest. I have seen the 
sun rise more than once from the high places of the earth 
— once on that rocky ridge of the Gorner Grat in Switzer- 
land, more than ten thousand feet above the sea, which 
commands the mighty panorama over which the Matter- 
horn domineers. When the first rays of the dawn began 
to run their fringe of silver along the snowy peaks of the 
Mischabelhorner and Monta Rosa it was all dark westward 
in the vale of Zermatt ; over all that slumbering hamlet 
the shadows lay heavily. The impulse stirred to call 
through the telephone to the sleepers down there and tell 
them that day was coming. Yet that assurance could 
hardly be needed. Faith in the coming day, albeit it is 
only faith, is strong enough in the hearts of the children 
of men. 

In the great movements of God's Kingdom the dawn 
often comes slowly. Through the long night of supersti- 
tion and oppression and social wrong, there are many who 
wait for the coming day, — " more than they that waiteth 
for the morning," — crying often, often in the night, " How 
long, O Iyord, how long?" Only one hope assures them — 

" That the slow watches of the night 

Not less to God belong, 
And for the everlasting Right 

The silent stars are strong." 

But always in such nights, there are watchmen on the 
mountain tops who catch the first signs of dawn, and shout 
to those in the valley below that " the morning cometh." 
The world is never without these heralds of a better day — 
brave souls who climb near enough to God to discern 



160a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

something of his purposes, and who lift up our hearts with 
visions of the glory visible to them and soon to be revealed 
to us. Beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those 
who bring us these good tidings. The old prophets of 
Israel were chief among these witnesses of the Light; 
always their faces were toward the East and their eyes 
were straining to behold the light of a new day. "And the 
glory of the Lord shall be revealed," they cried, "and all 
flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath 
spoken it." In every age such witnesses have appeared. 
The world will never know the debt it owes to these brave 
sentinels upon the heights. Solitary are these altitudes, 
and the winds blow keen and cold, but prophets of the 
dawn must risk such perils and privations. 

It is to this guild that we all belong, and to something 
of this lofty service we may be called. But if it is not for 
you or me to stand upon the mountain tops and be the 
heralds of a new day, there is not one of us who may not 
climb high enough to be able sometimes to send down the 
word of hope and promise to those who toil in the darkness 
and wait for the light. Andrew Ryckman's prayer may 
befit the lips of every one of us : 

" If there be some weaker one, 
Give me strength to help him on ; 
If a blinder soul there be, 
Let me guide him nearer Thee." 

I could find no message, my brethren, which seemed for 
you more fitting or more inspiring than this which I have 
brought you. The chimes of your century clock are striking 
their third quarter. It seems not long ago that we were 
standing here at the semi-centennial ; but even that recent 
date is to quite a large number of you a prehistoric period. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y ai6i 

If I look back to the day when I first stood in this pulpit 
as your pastor, thirty-six years ago, I recall a day to which 
the memory of most of you runneth not. A few of us here 
still remember it, though mists gather in the eyes when it 
rises before us, and the soft haze of distance lies over all 
the scene. The mountains are here, unaltered in their 
outline, undiminished in their majesty ; they seem to draw 
a little nearer than of old, as if to claim their share in our 
remembrance ; but the busy little town of those days has 
spread itself over these hills and assumed urban dignities ; 
much that was quaint and homely and primitive in that old 
life has disappeared ; it takes some effort to put ourselves 
back into those physical conditions and to reproduce the 
social atmosphere of those old days. How many of the forms 
that then were treading these streets in the vigor of youth 
or the prime of manhood, have vanished from our sight ; 
how many of the faces that were then looking up from 
these pews are now looking down out of the great cloud of 
witnesses! I see them now, — strong faces, earnest faces, 
full of light and sympathy, kindling with conviction and 
resolve, beautiful and dear to memory. 

The band of loyal men and women who stood around 
me in the days of my youthful pastorate are nearly all 
gone ; the group of young people who shared my hopes 
and enthusiasms are now gray headed, but my memory al- 
ways goes back with glad and swift feet to that lustrum, 
for the church at North Adams has always been dearer to 
me than any other church to which I have ministered, 
saving only the one which now claims my service. True 
and faithful men and women were those that here wrought 
by my side; with the crudities of my youth they were pa- 



162a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

tient ; how much occasion they had for patience I know 
now far better than I knew then. My best aims they al- 
ways supported ; how much I ever did for them I do not 
know, though the will was good, but I know how much 
they did for me. The ministering was not all on one side. 

As I think of those whom I knew in this fellowship, 
and of the spirit which prevailed in all its assemblies, I am 
impressed with the truth that this church has always been 
a company of witnesses for the light. Ever since I have 
known it, the minds that gave tone and character to its 
counsels have been open minds, hospitable to the truth, 
ready to see the light which is always breaking forth from 
God's holy word and God's marvellous universe. John 
Robinson has had lineal descendants, after the flesh, in 
this congregation, and many more who were of his spiritual 
lineage. You have had strong and brave and true men in 
your pulpit since I went away — all the while, since I went 
away, there has never been any fear in my heart that you 
were not well shepherded ; the witnessing of this pulpit 
has been with mighty power ; it has been heard around 
the world ; but those who have served you there, those of 
them who are here, and those whose voices are still, will 
confess with thankfulness that it is the witnessing church 
which makes possible the witnessing pastor ; that if the 
word has sounded forth with commanding influence from 
these walls, it is largely because the people in these pews 
have been large minded enough to be willing that it should 
have free course and be glorified. 

You have nothing else to do in the days to come, be- 
loved, but to be witnesses for the light. Still, as in all the 
days gone by, it is sown for the righteous ; more freely to- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ai6 3 

day than ever before is it scattered ; with open face behold 
it, and yield yourselves to its transforming might; then 
go forth with it, letting its guiding ray shine fair upon all 
the dusty ways of daily toil, upon all the hard problems of 
our social life ; bearing the comfort of it into homes that 
are desolate and hearts that are heavy laden ; till there 
shall be, nowhere within the circle of these hills, a heart 
that is hopeless or a home that is not the house of God and 
the gate of heaven. 




Pastors 1 Wives 



Tributes to Faithful Women of the 
Church* 



We delight to call to mind today our aged sisters still 
spared to us, the absent ones, and elder sisters to whom we 
still look for prayer and counsel. 

In 1833 Mrs. Caroline Lillie united with this church, 
now one of its oldest members ; through her four-score 
years she has felt a deep interest in the success of her 
church ; she and her sister, Mrs. Austin Bond, ministered 
to the early worshipers in this church in the service of 
song. Of Mrs. Bond it could be said she loved much — her 
large family made home the sphere of her work ; the lives 
of her children bear testimony to her worth more than pen 
of friend can do. She dearly loved Dr. Crawford, and 
gave one of her sons the family name of her minister. 

Miss Martha Streeter has been a member of this church 
the greatest number of years of any one now living ; her 
sister Hannah is also living in the west. Who can forget 
the three sisters in their home, who gave far beyond their 
means, oftentimes to be messengers of love to those who 
were in need. 

Mrs. Abby Erwin, ninety-two years of age, was with 
us yesterday to meet the pastors ; almost her entire family 

*Just a few words to explain these tributes. I knew of no better way to 
secure a memorial of the women's work in our early church than to ask 
different ladies to write a short tribute of some earlier worker. I fear we 
seldom stop to realize our precious heritage of church ancestry, we are so busy 
with the things of today. 

There have been many other consecrated souls among us, whose names 
cannot be mentioned for the want of time. We can speak of only a few who 
carried the outside work to completion ; the " polished stones" that beautified 
its finish, are known to friends and to the Lord. J. P. Goodrich. 



150 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

have sung from time to time at public worship since 1843 
— a granddaughter is a member of our present choir. 

Mrs. Martha Potter has been one who has strengthened 
the "tie that binds" over sixty years. Her unfaltering trust 
has been an inspiration to many; she has stood by the 
" River " and watched all her family cross to the other 
shore. I doubt if any one in our church has been able to 
so comfort those in sorrow as she has, calmly showing her 
faith by her works. 

Mrs. John Doane, nearly sixty years a member of this 
church, is a shining example of cheerful resignation, and 
often worships with us in spirit, though unable to come up 
to the Lord's House. 

Mrs. William Martin, over fifty years a member, has 
built up this church in so many ways, we all recognize 
her as a "foundation woman," and lean upon her counsel 
and prayers — for though she has been tried, she has not 
been found wanting. 

Mrs. William Ford, a member forty years, and her 
children and grandchildren, are working with us today. 

Mrs. Freelove Chase has been one of our number since 

i3 5 7- 

Mrs. Willard Ballou is another member whose faith is 
unwavering. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Cone has been one of us over thirty 
years, bringing a long Christian service from a former 
home ; her interest in the prosperity of our church is con- 
tinuous, her children and grandchildren keeping her in 
close touch with all our efforts. 

We still feel the influence of the quiet home-makers, 
Mrs. Hiram Benton and Mrs. Dr. Rice, through the services 
of their daughters. Mrs. William Brown and Mrs. Moses 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 151 

Darling were also efficient helpers. The ministry of the 
rare young women who were permitted to work but " one 
hour " in choir or Sunday School is not forgotten : Fannie 
Butler, A. E. and Frances Brown, Eva French Millard, 
Carrie Parmly, Mary Phelps, Eunice Haskins, Carrie 
Smith Whitney, Florence Butler Roos, Libbie Barber. 

Nor do we forget the " shut ins, " Mrs. W. W. Butler, 
Mrs. D. Raymond ; the absent ones whose prayers are for 
their old home church, Mrs. L,. M. Holbrook, Miss Hawkes, 
Mrs. Edwin Thayer, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Homer Smith, 
Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. J. Parkhill ; the three sisters, Mrs. Charles 
Butler, Mrs. Lydia Kimbell, Mrs. James Flagg, whose 
children have been trained in this church and are helpers 
here today. 

How the list of workers comes up before us as we 
unroll the scroll : Mrs. Jewett, Mrs. Barber, Mrs. Hodge, 
Mrs. French, Mrs. Bixby, Mrs. Stowell, Mrs. Gallup, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Thayer, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. 
Perry, Mrs. Jackson, who are still our elder sisters to whom 
we go for counsel. Time fails to speak of scores of good 
women who have worked in this part of the Master's 
Vineyard. 

J. P. Goodrich. 

FIRST MEMORIES OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 

My first association with this church was as a pupil in 
Miss Rhoda Streeter's infant class. This was fifty-seven 
years ago, and she continued to teach the youngest class in 
the Sunday School until 1866 (?) when Mr. Thomas Doane 
reorganized the school and formed the primary department. 

I do not remember one of my mates, but my teacher I 
remember almost as if I saw her today. I can see Miss 



152 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Streeter now welcoming each child with a bright smile and 
gentle attentions to our comfort. After the prayer by Dea- 
con Gaylord or Deacon Munn, we recited our verses and 
Miss Streeter talked sweetly about them. That she loved 
us we knew, and that she was all goodness and loved the 
Jesus whom she wanted us to love and try to please we 
never doubted. She had the subtle influence of gentle and 
loving ways combined with very sincere piety, that in some 
way took hold of our young hearts. I am sure we all 
wanted her to think well of us and that helped us to try to 
be good children. We must have got an ideal of simple 
goodness from our teacher that was worth more to us than 
any number of facts, and as Miss Streeter had the youngest 
class in Sunday School for many years, who can imagine 
the number of germinal virtues that are credited to her ac- 
count in the records of character building? 

In vain have I tried to recall my successive teachers, 
but I remember no others definitely until I was about twelve 
years old. Perhaps it is my fault. I may have been pass- 
ing through unresponsive years, when there was no answer- 
ing thrill of emotion to the words and appeals of my Sunday 
School teachers, but from the vividness and vigor of my 
recollections, at periods wide apart, of those of whom I 
write, I am inclined to think it was the individuality of 
those teachers that made so strong an impression upon my 
mind. 

When I was about twelve years old one who had 
recently come to our church was appointed to the class of 
restless roguish girls to which I belonged. How bright in 
memory is the picture of the new teacher as she stood before 
us for the first time ; the air of gentle refinement about her, 
the sweet but very serious way in which she took up the 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 153 

lesson and sought to bring its truths home to each heart. 
We were too young to reason about it, but we were won 
and deeply impressed, and it was not long before careless- 
ness and rudeness disappeared, and we were under the 
control of a strong mind and gracious Christian character. 
We were surprised into thoughtfulness by the earnestness, 
personal interest and love so apparent in our teacher week, 
after week. The divine spark was in this life too, and I 
believe it kindled a little flame in the hearts of her pupils 
that was the beginning of the new life to some of them. 
This teacher was Mrs. Bradford Harrison. 

The next whom I recall with clearness was Mrs. J. T. 
Robinson, for many years the teacher of the Young Wom- 
en's Bible Class. Mrs. Robinson was not only strongly re- 
ligious, and valuable in all the women's work of the church, 
but she was a great lover of learning, especially of history, 
and her ways of illuminating the Bible in all its phases, its 
geography, history, literary beauty and spiritual meaning, 
were not only full of interest and charm, but convincing 
to the mind. Sunday School teaching with Mrs. Robinson 
was a divine gift. It was using her talents for the Master, 
and she was ambitious to help young women to grow into 
the full stature of true Christian womanhood. 

She was a stimulating teacher ; her methods made a 
demand on every pupil to brace up to genuine mental ef- 
fort, but it was more than this ; it was a challenge to 
thoughtful consideration of life and duty, indeed — a constant 
invitation to become a sincere child of God. She was con- 
servative, but tolerant and just to every honest opinion, 
and had the true teacher's faculty of drawing out original 
answers and ideas. Her influence, both direct and indirect, 
was great, and followed us through the week. 



154 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Such teaching as Mrs. Robinson's could not but in- 
fluence the mental habits and moral life of all who enjoyed 
it, and I believe our church owes deep and grateful remem- 
brance to one who had so large a part in the training of its 
young women in Christian knowledge and life. The fresh- 
ness of these recollections and the dimness of others has 
emphasized in my mind a truth that has been growing 
upon me with great force of late years, that is, that of all 
the influences that operate upon the souls of youth, person- 
ality is the strongest and finest. It is indefinable, but 
should be reckoned upon in choosing teachers. My three 
teachers impressed an ideal of Christian living and think- 
ing that worked deeper than any of their words. From such 
spiritual characters an influence flows that takes a deep 
hold of the affections, and through the affections the life 
is moulded and enriched. 

Mary Hunter Williams. 

MARIA SMITH GOULD 

" Nearer My God to Thee" 

Maria Smith Gould was the last one of the twenty-two 
original members of the church to be called home to her 
Father's house of many mansions. 

She joined by profession when a girl of sixteen, and 
lived to have her children, grandchildren and one great- 
grandchild worship with her in this her first church home. 

Her love for her church grew with her years, and per- 
haps was at no time keener than during that period when 
she was debarred by age from worshiping there in person. 

She had a church record in years and in loyalty which 
few of us can hope to attain. 

Mary F. B. Burbank. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 155 

MRS. LEVI STEARNS 
•' Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" 

In the early days of this church one of the faithful 
women was Mrs. Levi Stearns. She was an earnest Chris- 
tian, gifted in prayer, and in every way sought to further 
the kingdom of her Savior. 

She taught in the Sabbath School, and was very much 

interested in the conversion of souls of the young, as well 

as of older people — would invite them to come to Christ ; 

pray with, and for them, inspiring and helping them in her 

beautiful way, as the writer can testify with the deepest 

gratitude. 

Mrs. E. M. Harrison. 

MRS. (DR.) ROBERT ROBINSON 
"A woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised" 

Mrs. Sophia Briggs Robinson was a member of this 
church seventy years ago. She desired the young Congre- 
gational church should be properly equipped ; it was a day 
of small things, no aid societies. Consulting her friends 
she tried to devise ways and means to secure a communion 
set. She preferred knitting to housewifery, and deter- 
mined to earn something towards the purchase of a pewter 
service ; patiently she knitted linen fringe of intricate pat- 
tern to trim the curtains of the oldtime high-post beds, for 
which she received a goodly sum, and with the assistance 
of Dr. Hawkes one was purchased, and used for thirty years, 
when it was superseded by the silver service given by Mr. 
and Mrs. William S. Blackinton. 

Later this first set was donated to the church in the 
White Oaks at Williamstown, and there used for some 
years ; when a silver service was presented to them the 
pewter one was set aside. 



1 56 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

In 1900 Mrs. John Bond secured it and presented it 
anew to the home church. It can be seen in a corner of 
one of our parlors in a case made to preserve it as a pre- 
cious heirloom of the past. 

Compiled. 

MRS. CIvARA ROBINSON MARSHAL,!, 

" Faithful in all Things " 

Mrs. Clara Robinson Marshall was the most striking 
figure among the ladies whom a stranger coming to the 
little village of North Adams in the '40s would have been 
apt to meet. Brought up here, the daughter of Dr. Robert 
C. Robinson, and so own cousin to Mrs Babbitt and to 
Judge Robinson, she was married to the young English- 
man, Mr. James E. Marshall, who came here to assume 
charge of the cotton mills which had been bought by his 
uncles in England. 

Their home was perhaps the first in North Adams to 
be opened as a center of hospitable social life. Having 
great executive ability, Mrs. Marshall was by nature a 
leader socially and in the activities of the church, and in 
both directions she used her really great influence always 
toward what was on a high level. She once told me that 
in fulfillment of her church duties she made it a point to 
call at least once a year on every woman who attended the 
church. Her cordial welcome and after helpfulness to those 
who came as strangers into town or church were evidence 
of her kindness of heart. 

In person and manner she was exceptionally attractive; 
tall, with large dark eyes, she had a fine presence and 
queenly carriage, and added a most winning smile to great 
natural dignity. That her smile was not for the outside 
world alone may be understood from the simple fact that 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 157 

she was greatly beloved by all who served her. Best of all, 

she was a happy wife and mother; tender and yet wise 

with her boys and girls, and devoted to her husband through 

the time of their prosperity, and doubly so when business 

prospects darkened. 

Diantha L. Jackson. 

MRS. JOSEPH P. MERRIAM 
" Enter into His gates with thanksgiving-, and into His courts with praise " 

Mrs. Harriet R. Merriam was the second daughter of 
Dr. Robert Robinson, and united with the church under 
Dr. Crawford's ministry. 

She sang contralto in the church choir ; a friendship 
formed at this time resulted in her becoming the wife of 
Joseph Merriam. 

( It was in the home of his father, Daniel P. Merriam, 
that the council first met to arrange for the organization of 
this church.) 

Two sons were born here, and in 1855 they went west, 
where they labored in other fields. 

Her love for her early church, for North Adams and 
its mountains, was her song always. 

By her daughter, 

Helen M. Hoageand. 

Mrs. Helen Merriam Hoagland of New York repre- 
sented the families of her father and mother at the 
seventy-fifth anniversary of the Congregational church 
held in North Adams in 1902. J. P. G. 

MRS. DEACON ROBERT McLELLAN 

"By their fruits ye shall know them" 
One of the prominent names in the second decade of 
our church history was McLellan. Deacon R. W. B. Mc- 



158 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Lellan and Belinda Elliot, his wife, were devoted workers, 
sustaining its meetings for prayer, encouraging its pastors, 
maintaining a family altar, of sacred memory to those who 
were permitted to share its worship. 

Mrs. McLellan was the faithful secretary of the 
"mothers' meetings" for nine years, and from her Bible 
class many came into the church. 

Removing west, their lives enriched other fields. Their 
eldest daughter lives in Los Gatos, California, from where 
the mother was called to her heavenly home in 1873. 
Deacon McLellan followed in 1890. 

The youngest has been a missionary in China over 
thirty years, her husband having charge of the largest 
mission press in the world ( at Shanghai ). Three of their 
children are also at work under the Presbyterian Board in 
China, illustrating the promise " to children's children," etc. 

The McLellan name has been kept upon our church 
roll by our dear Amelia McLellan, one of the Lord's 
precious jewels recently called home, who was a faithful 
member with us over fifty years. Her weekly offering was 
put aside when too ill to attend the service. Her quiet 
consistent life was an object lesson for all, " to look for the 
best in every one." 

Miss Janet Elliot (Keeler), a sister of Mrs. McLellan, 
will be lovingly recalled by many here today. She too has 
trained children for the heavenly kingdom. 

MRS. (DR.) E. S. HAWKES 
" Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." 

Miss Sophia Abbey was born in Natchez, Mississippi. 
Losing both parents when quite young she came to live 
with relatives in Massachusetts. Some years afterward she 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 159 

was married to Dr. Elihu S. Hawkes, a prominent physi- 
cian and one of the early members of the Congregational 
church in North Adams. She was noted for her graceful 
and engaging manners. Reared under southern customs, 
she was naturally of a retiring and timid disposition. The 
many cares of home life often prevented her from active 
church work, but her loyal support and open purse 
were ever at command. She was the mother of a large 
family, and though having abundant means, she gave per- 
sonal, devoted care to her children. She was a loving, 
faithful mother, sacrificing ease and personal pleasure that 
they might be happy ; an excellent housekeeper and true 
home-keeper, generous to the poor and unfortunate, a kind 
neighbor and friend. 

Many surprises in the form of some useful present 
were planned by Dr. and Mrs. Hawkes and given to worthy 
and needy friends to help them in the struggle of life. 

Mrs. Hawkes was ever in sympathy with any plan of 
her husband for the welfare and success of the church. 

Iv. M. Holbrook. 

MRS. HENRY CHICKERING 

" She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness" 
Miss Elvira S. Allen was born in Barre, Mass. In 
1844 she married Hon. Henry Chickering, founder of the 
North Adams Transcript and for many years its publisher. 
They came to North Adams immediately after their mar- 
riage and at once identified themselves with the Congrega- 
tional church, and soon became active in all the affairs of 
church work, he filling the office of deacon until removal 
from town. 



160 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Mrs. Chickering was a woman of strong personality of 
character and of rare excellence, a woman of culture, ed- 
ucated under the instruction of Mary Lyon, sympathetic 
and helpful to those less favored than others, a wise coun- 
sellor and a true friend. She was an important member of 
the monthly " mothers' meeting," and did much to increase 
its interest and efficiency ; constant in attendance at all the 
meetings of the church, and always at the Thursday even- 
ing prayer meetings. Her aged grandmother and sister 
were also members of the church. Miss Hannah P. Allen, 
her sister, taught a primary school in the vestry of the old 
church, and can be recalled by many as the one who first 
taught them reading, sewing, embroidery and sketching 
with crayons. 

Two sons and a daughter were given to these godly 
parents ; only one remains, William Chickering of Oak- 
land, California. 

L. M. Holbrook. 

MRS. ROBERT CRAWFORD 

" Love is the fulfilling of the Law " 

No one can recall Mrs. Crawford without a vision of a 
lovely and smiling countenance encased in dark curls, and 
who that ever heard them will forget her loving words and 
affectionate greetings and partings ? 

Mrs. Crawford was an invalid all the years I remember 
her, and could not be very active, but the "mothers' meet- 
ings" over which she presided for some years were very 
dear to her heart. 

Her interest in the children was deep and tender, and 
she knew by name every child of the church. To help her 
husband in his work, it was her custom to have the deacons 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 161 

and their wives meet at the parsonage every quarter, for a 
social tea, and then talk over the interests of the church, 
and plan together ways and means for promoting them. 

We can imagine the seriousness of these conferences 
successively with such men as Deacons McLellan, Gaylord, 
Chickering, Marshall, Hunter, for these were struggling 
days for the church. Mrs. Dawes wrote of them " It some- 
times seems as if we could not keep up our church society; 
everybody who goes away goes from our church, and every 
newcomer is either a Baptist or Methodist." 

But Dr. Crawford guided us through these trying times 
carefully and prayerfully, and always with the sympathy 
of Mrs. Crawford, whose love for this their first parish was 
strong and manifest all her life. 

Mary Hunter Wiujams. 

MRS. H. L. DAWES 

" The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace " 

Mrs. Dawes was a member of this church for twenty 
years, from 1844, when she came to North Adams a bride, 
until 1864, when the family removed to Pittsfield, most of 
this period during the pastorates of Dr. Crawford and Mr. 
Paine. At different times she was president of the maternal 
society, teacher in the Sunday School, and interested in 
whatever was doing, as for instance, in organizing the mite 
societies for the furnishing of the new church. We did not 
have the organized activities of today at that time, but the 
church life and family life were more intimately blended 
than now, and the individual influence of its women was 
none the less potent. Of commanding and charming per- 
sonality, Mrs. Dawes' natural leadership was increased by 
her husband's position as a public man, and her broad 



i6a SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

spirit went out into all the religious, philanthropic and 
intellectual life of her time. 

Mrs. Dawes' loyalty to her pastors was exceptionally 
strong and never failing, which kept her in touch with the 
needs of the church. She loved to lighten all human bur- 
dens, and had a wonderful way of meeting people helpfully, 
being remembered gratefully as a friend to the sick and 
sorrowing. Her bounteous sympathy and the sweet 
strength of her noble nature seemed to transfigure cares 
and sorrows and help others to rise above them, as she her- 
self ever did, into the atmosphere of hopefulness and trust. 
Mary Hunter Williams. 

MRS. SARAH A. CHILDS 
"Discreet, chaste, keeper at home " 

When a young lady Mrs. Childs became a Christian 
and united with the church in Brattleboro, Vt. At the 
time of her marriage, in May, 1841, she came to North 
Adams, and very soon ( by letter ) united with the Congre- 
gational church of this city. She was ever a devoted con- 
scientious Christian. Her prayers and example soon led 
her husband to give himself to the service of the Master, 
and he was ever a humble active Christian. 

She was very much interested in the "mothers' meet- 
ings " of those days. She was faithful to her church, 
family, and friends, and died in the faith, in Montreal, 
Canada, in 1850. It well could be said of her : "She hath 

done what she could." 

Caroline A. Doane. 

MRS. DAVID ROGERS 

"A Faithful Mother" 
The wife of Deacon Rogers was an excellent Christian 
mother, a good neighbor and friend. She prepared many 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 163 

delicacies for the sick, and often sent a dainty dish to her 
pastor. She was greatly interested in the quilting bees and 
donations of the early days. The name " Rogers " was 
part of the framework of this church fifty years ago. They 
with the help of Mrs. Levi Randall planned many a gather- 
ing for the choir of " lang syne, " and secured money to 
carry on the necessary " singing school." 

MRS. JOSHUA K. ROGERS 

Mrs. Rogers came to North Adams in 1841, directly 

after her marriage. She was a sincere Christian, but her 

health did not allow of much active church work. She 

was, however, interested in everything pertaining to the 

church. She was born in Conway, Mass., in 181 7, and 

died in Syracuse, N. Y., in July, 1901. A lovely Christian 

woman. 

Caroline A. Doane. 

MRS. E. ROGERS 

"She was an artist, truly skilled with needle point " 

Mrs. Sebaette Stevens Rogers was born in Swanzy, 
New Hampshire, and was married to Mr. Edwin Rogers in 
1844 by Rev. Dr. Crawford, the wedding taking place in 
the brick block just east of the church. In the fall of 1894 
their golden wedding was celebrated, and called together a 
large company, among whom were Senator and Mrs. H. L,. 
Dawes, who attended their wedding. 

Mrs. Rogers united with this church in 1850, and was 
always interested in its welfare, although prevented by ill 
health from taking as active a part as she would have liked; 
but her wise council was often sought. She had executive 
ability of no mean sort, and was very efficient as an officer 
in the sewing society, and her skill with her needle was 



164 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

invaluable. She was also of great assistance to her husband 
in his work as chorister, who valued her opinion in the se- 
lection of hymns. 

Mrs. Rogers died at their summer home, Heron Island, 
July 25, 1895. The island yielded beautiful floral treasures 
which were arranged by loving hands as tributes of affec- 
tion. Thus passed from earth a remarkable woman of a 
refined and social disposition, and a sincere friend, who will 
linger long in the memories of those who knew and loved 
her. 

Sarah E. Ingalls. 

MRS. THOMAS ROBINSON 

" A Loyal Helper " 

She was one of the active women to suggest ways and 
means in the early days of our church. Coming from city 
life to the small country town, she brought many new sug- 
gestions, and often invited the Women's Sewing Society 
to meet with her. 

The early part of the afternoon was given to sewing 
for the minister's family, or one of the parish who might 
have sickness in their home. Outgrown clothing was 
brought to be remodeled for some needy child to go to 
Sunday School, and money was raised in various ways to 
send an occasional box to a missionary. 

It was the fashion at one time for men to wear silk 
nightcaps, said to be conducive to silky hair, and a few 
women who were particularly nice with their needles made 
them under the direction of Mrs. Robinson for sale ; they 
were made of brown silk. The late John F. Arnold or- 
dered for himself and some of his friends. 

As daylight waned an hour of prayer followed the 
work ; frequently a bountiful tea had been prepared, to 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 165 

which the minister was expected, and the deacons were 

welcome ; the village tea table discussed the interests of 

the church together, " and the mite box was passed from 

one willing hand to another." 

Compiled. 

MRS. JOHN H. ORR 

" The Lord is mindful of His own " 

Mrs. John H. Orr will be lovingly recalled by many 
here today. Afflicted for years with an incurable and de- 
pressing disease, deprived of the privilege of attendance 
upon public worship, her four walls shutting her from out- 
side activities, she made her rooms the place of prayer, and 
for some years the women's prayer meetings were held 
with her ; all who were privileged to attend remember 
her fervency of spirit and cheerful resignation. 

Living so near the church she loved, but not permitted 
to enter its doors, yet her sweet influence was felt in the 
lesson she taught by unmurmuring trust — encouraging 
others by joyous words, and sharing with her husband the 
interests of the church, she exerted a quiet influence that 
cannot be told. 

She was a Christian of rare graces — in her relations of 
wife, mother and friend, she won profound respect and 
love. Uniting with the church in 1842, she was a valued 
member until her death in 1871. 

Mrs. Esther C. Richardson. 

MARY CONE ROBINSON 

" One Family in Heaven " 

Mrs. Mary Cone Robinson united with this church at 
the time of the great revival of 1852. To her covenant 
vows she was ever faithful, always seeking to know and do 



166 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

her Master's will. In her daily life she exemplified and 
adorned the religion of her Savior. The Bible was most 
truly the guide of her life. The two last years of her life 
she was an invalid. She bore this protracted season of pain 
and weakness with cheerfulness and patience. It was o-iven 
to her here to enjoy a foretaste of the joys upon which she 
was so soon to enter. A short time before she passed 
away she was given a respite from severe pain by a few 
moments of sleep, from which she wakened suddenly, her 
lovely face radiant with an angelic smile, and said: "I have 
seen the 'Beautiful City' and the gates were open wide." 

So to this dear one "an abundant entrance was given 
into the heaven for which she was so fully prepared." 
Esther Cone Richardson. 
CLARA A. CONE 
Miss Clara A. Cone united with this church in 1858. 
She was a devoted, loving, self-sacrificing disciple of her 
master. To " do good as she had opportunity " was the de- 
sire of her life. Her heart and hand were ever ready to 
serve the needy and suffering. " Of such is the Kingdom 
of Heaven." 

MATTIE A. CONE 

Miss Mattie A. Cone united with this church in 1864. 
From childhood her health was delicate. The last few 
years of her life she was a great sufferer, but she bore her 
sufferings with sweet submission and cheerfulness. She 
was a loving, trustful follower of her Savior and prepared 
for the "sweet rest of Heaven." 

These sisters united with the same church here on 
earth and were united in the Heavenly home where sin 
and suffering never enter, and parting never comes. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 167 

" They have washed their robes, and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the 
throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple, 
and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." 

" For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne 
shall feed them and shall lead them into living fountains 
of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes." 

MRS. SARAH SARGENT PAINE 

" Her work was done— and well done" 

The wife of Rev. Albert Paine was a particularly social 
woman, and was a valuable assistant to her husband in his 
pastoral work. 

It was a wonder to her friends how she could find time 
for the many calls she made in the parish. She was 
domestic in her tastes and left no part of her household 
duties that required her attention ; her children always 
received her first care, and later when grandchildren came 
they were her heart's delight. She always showed warm 
sympathy for all who were in trouble, and took keen 
interest in the work of the church, and in every good 
undertaking in the community, endearing herself to all 
with whom she came in contact. She was rich in common 
sense, which enabled her to meet and overcome difficulties. 
She was steadfast to her friends, to duty, to all the require- 
ments of home, and ably assisted her husband in his work 
throughout the parish. 

Not lacking in hospitality, she always welcomed an 
unexpected friend to her board or fire-side. 

Though suffering from an incurable disease she en- 
dured all with resignation and cheerfulness, expressing the 



168 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

wish that she might live to see her husband through, as 
increasing blindness made him dependent upon her devoted 
care. They were happy in life and were not long separated 
by death, as they both entered into rest in 1901. 

Elizabeth D. Thayer. 

MRS. FRANKLIN ROBINSON 

" Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth " 

These few lines cannot convey an adequate memorial 
of the unassuming Christian character of Mrs. Robinson. 

Her gentle, genial influence was chiefly felt in the 
home circle. Her greatest pleasure seemed to consist in 
ministering to the happiness of those about her. In mem- 
ory we revert to those days when it was our privilege to 
receive the ever warm welcome of her hospitality, and her 
ready appreciative interest in the happiness of the young. 

Her religious faith was always reverent, but with char- 
acteristic humility she refrained from witnessing early for 
Christ by a public decision. In after years she often re- 
gretted that she thus delayed. 

She was fond of committing hymns to memory. Her 
favorite hymn was " Sweet the moments rich in blessing ! " 

She was sympathetic in her help for the needy and the 
sick. Her last illness was caused by exposure in the desire 
to alleviate the sufferings of a sick neighbor. Her death 
was felt keenly in the church and community. 

Lucy Harrison Cone. 

MRS. SUSAN ROBINSON BLACKINTON 

" Not to be ministered unto but to minister " 

In recalling the names of the women of our church in 
its earlier days, it is a pleasure to speak of Susan Robinson 
Blackinton. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 1 69 

But how can we bring up before you her beauty of face, 
and grace of manner that so charmed all who met her ? 

Fidelity is a rare quality, but she possessed it in large 
measure, manifesting it in her love and loyalty to her 
church and pastor. 

Loving all things beautiful, she with her husband, 
William S. Blackinton, was ever ready with suggestions for 
the improvement and beauty of our house of worship. The 
beautiful rose window was suggested and selected by them. 

The silver communion service was their gift, and when 
an addition was necessary, that was supplied. 

With what loving remembrance many recall the little 
" Leaflets " bearing words of comfort and cheer, sent to the 
sick and sorrowing. 

Bright and courageous herself, she ever urged others 
to look for the shining side of the clouds. 

" To live in hearts we love is not to die " 

M. Louise Perry. 

MRS. ANN ELIZA BABBITT 

Psalm 84-10—" For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather 
be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of 
wickedness." 

As a tribute to my deceased friend, I wish to testify to 
her steadfast, Christian character, which was unchanging 
in all the seventy years of friendship we enjoyed together. 

She loved her Savior, she loved to worship in His 
house ; the text at the head of this sketch was one very of- 
ten repeated by her. 

The desire to be of service to others and her unselfish 
life will be held in affectionate remembrance. She planned 
to further ways to carry on the work of the Master in her 
own city, and was generous as means would permit. She 



i;o SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

loved her country and desired all parts be opened to the 

privilege of worship, and was especially interested in the 

work of home missions by her church ; for several years she 

was an officer in that organization, and the annual opening 

of the " mite " boxes was in her parlors. 

She believed in prayer, and hers was the " effectual 

prayer of the righteous." When the Reaper came she was 

ready, her work was well done, and she was gathered into 

the Heavenly fold February 13, 1900, in her eightv-fourth 
year. 

In loving remembrance, 

Emily Bradford Whipple. 

MRS. MARY MITCHELL HOLDEN 
" How much the fruit in God's garden is beautified by the process that ripens it" 

Mrs. Mary Mitchell Holden was born in 1807. She 
was a kind friend and neighbor, a quiet home keeper ; no 
one sent daintier dishes to our church festivals or to inva- 
lids than she prepared with her own hands. 

She united with this church in 1837, during the pas- 
torate of Rev. E. Russell, and was a faithful attendant 
upon its services until her death, January, 1879. 

ADALINE C. HOLDEN 
" Ours not to reply. 
Ours not to reason why " 

Adaline C. Holden was one of the ''polished stones" 
fit for the Master's use. Her quiet sincere love for the 
Savior created an atmosphere of purity and Christian 
cheerfulness that made her home a haven of rest for 
troubled hearts. 

A "shut in" who did not publicly unite with the 
church until 1874, but her heart and prayers had been with 
us for many years. She manifested a thankful spirit at all 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 171 

times. The heavenly Father sent a beautiful child into the 
home, Stella, the daughter of her sister, Mrs. Rhoba 
Jewett, and the richness of Miss Holden's loving heart left 
its impress iipon the pure page of the child's mind. 

When the Father recalled this treasure, it was already 
ripe for the heavenly garner. She was a tower of strength 
to the sorrowing parents, and bowed in perfect submission, 
for she felt that " God never does, or permits to be done, 
that we would not if we could see the end." With this un- 
faltering trust she, too, entered the heavenly home, March 
6, 1882. Caroline L. Hunter. 

MRS. SARAH THAYER PAUL 
" Her words were fitly spoken " 

Mrs. Paul was a typical New England Christian 
woman and mother, ever ready with wise counsel, which 
brought comfort to many. 

Educated under Mary Lyon, she became a teacher, 
whose reputation was greatly enriched by the earnest 
Christian influence exerted upon her pupils. She wor- 
shiped with this church during the pastorates of Messrs. 
Yeomans and Day. After her marriage to Truman Paul a 
warm hospitality reached the parsonages here and at Wil- 
liamstown, where for thirty years she was a faithful 
member of that church. 

Removing to this city in 1862, they united with this 
church, and as long as health permitted she attended the 
women's meetings and the church services. Her prayers 
with the sick and the aged, her interest in missions, will 
be long remembered by those who shared them. 

She suffered a stroke of apoplexy in her church pew, 
and entered into rest in the year 1875. 

Joanna L. Martin. 



1 72 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

MRS. S. JOHNSON 

" God loveth a cheerful giver " 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson came to this city from Adams ; 
in 1864 she united with this church, and from that time she 
gave of her means, her time, her carriage to help forward the 
work of the church. She was a frequent caller upon those 
who were "shut in," and deeply interested in the welfare of 
the many employees in her husband's large manufactory. 

Her usefulness was greatly appreciated in her willing- 
ness to show others how to make the best use of what they 
had ; she was particularly deft with her needle, and often 
clothed up children for Sunday School ; encouraging her 
weaker friends to find the gladness and sunshine in the 
world. She gave generously for the Soldiers' Aid Society, 
carried on by the union of churches during the civil war. 

Mrs. Johnson was a thrifty housewife and faithful help- 
meet ; and always gave her friends new inspiration and 
vigor to meet the cares and burdens of daily life. A mem- 
ber of a large social circle, she assisted her husband in 
entertaining his many friends, looked well to the affairs of 
her own household, entered into the joyous life of her chil- 
dren, brightening all by her sunny temperament. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were valuable helpers in the 
community, and their loss from our church was very great, 
but their good deeds and broad charities are not forgotten. 

As one who knew Mrs. Johnson from her earliest 
childhood, I wish to bear loving testimony to many personal 
loving kindnesses shown me through many years. 

Mrs. E. M. Harrison. 

MRS. DEACON JAMES HUNTER 

" To do good and distribute " 

The above seems to me to have been the daily char- 
acteristic of my neighbor. It was my privilege to be much 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 173 

in the home of this sainted woman. So quietly did she go 
about upon errands of mercy, few knew the extent of her 
helpful ministrations. She did all in such a modest un- 
assuming way, no opportunity was given for thanks. 

Her generous heart and quiet sympathy with any in 
trouble made her one of our "foundation women" many 
years. Of her it could be truly said : " The heart of her 
husband doth safely trust in her," for she faithfully sup- 
ported him in every good work, and they were united not 
only in their desire for the prosperity of their church, but 
also to make their home a haven of rest to all the Christian 
brothers and sisters. 

She was given to hospitality. No one can forget the 
unfeigned welcome which was sure to greet us ; her house 
was always in readiness for the unexpected guest. The 
communion bread was prepared by her for over thirty 
years. 

She was not given to much speaking, but her devoted 
manner at all devotional meetings told of a meek and 
worshipful spirit more convincing than many a public 
prayer. No one ever heard a bitter word from her lips. 

She was a beautiful housekeeper. Many besides her 
own children rise up and say, blessed was her life among 
us. Jennie Paul. Goodrich. 

BELLE HUNTER (CHASE) 

" Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" 
The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Deacon James 
Hunter was my school-mate, church-mate and friend. To- 
gether we stood before the altar in May, 1866, and publicly 
promised " to unite with this church in active service of 
the great Master." This friendship has enriched my whole 
life. 



1 74 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

She inherited many of the rare qualities of the father 
and mother ; her daily walk and conversation were an in- 
spiration to growth in character, and an earnest desire to 
do good and to be good left its impress upon the young 
people of this church, who to this day quote her discreet and 
joyous Christian living. Her cheeriness and tact helped 
things to move without friction. She took active part in 
all young people's work. She taught a large class of young 
girls in the Sunday School, and faithfully portrayed to 
them the beauty of a life given to His service. 

Retiring in her nature, she placed others higher than 
herself, yet eagerly finding some work she could carry on. 
She loved the Lord's house; her radiant face as she listened 
to some inspiring service can never be reproduced — yet it 
hangs on memory's wall a heavenly vision. 

She was called up higher in 1876. 
In loving remembrance, 

Jennie Paul Goodrich. 

MRS. A. P. BUTLER 
" A lover of hospitality " 

This faithful worker united with our church in the 
year 1850, and for thirty-five years was one of its foundation 
women. 

Caroline Witt Butler was born at Hubbardston, Mass., 
in 1819. She married Mr. Abial P. Butler in 1837, and 
they were the parents of six children, one only of whom 
survived them, Will Witt Butler. Mrs. Butler lived the 
life of a consistent Christian, loyalty to her church and its 
work being one of her strongest attributes. 

Until the time of her death she was a liberal subscriber 
to its missionary and benevolent schemes, and ill health 
only interfered, during the later years of her life, with ac- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 175 

tive participation in the work of the church. Her home 
was open to the hospitalities attending the reception and 
care of supplies. 

During the first months of Mr. Munger's pastorate he 
found in her home the quiet comfort essential to his re- 
quirements. 

Mrs. Butler will be fondly remembered as " Dear Aunt 
Kate." 

She was called to her heavenly home in February, 1885. 

Joanna L. Martin. 

MRS. T. T. MUNGER 

" They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever " 
In thinking of Mrs. Munger's influence among us we 
always remember the beautiful home life, — that Christian 
ideal of home in which every member blends the pursuit of 
true culture with good useful work, done for the happiness 
of the family and for others, with a sacred reserve of time 
for outside duties. So long as health continued this home 
was a social centre and an uplifting influence, touching the 
community life in various ways. 

Mrs. Munger organized the first book club in North 
Adams, an educational impulse which has widened and con- 
tinued to the present time. She gave strength and inspir- 
ation to all the women's societies of the church, but the 
education of the young in Christian work appealed to her 
with special force, and as one of the leaders of the Harry 
Wadsworth club (so named from the club of Dr. Hale's story 
"Ten Times One Are Ten") she devoted much time to 
teaching the boys and girls and cultivating their sympathies 
and interest in all good work, for the freedmen, Indians, 
home and foreign missions, and first of all for work in our 
own town. 



1 76 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

Mrs. Munger was a model of sincerity and earnestness, 
and as she had the enthusiasm and faith necessary for suc- 
cess, she left her mark on many of these young lives. 
Mary Hunter Wilwams. 

MRS. (DR.) G. C. LAWRENCE 

" Diligent in business, fervent in spirit" 

In the early 60s Dr. George C. Lawrence and his wife 
came to this church, bringing letters with them. 

We soon learned their helpfulness in many ways — 
for nearly twenty-five years he was the beloved physician 
in many of our homes, and his death was a general sorrow. 
Their son, Hon. Geo. P. Lawrence, still keeps the family 
name upon the church roll. 

All who assisted in church work with Mrs. Lawrence 
knew her worth. She had great executive ability and per- 
severence, and knew no such word as failure. When she 
had used up her own strength (and no one knew how long 
she battled with disease) she would enlist others into the 
service, and in that respect she had most wonderful success, 
infusing new life and courage into others for the work to 
be done. 

She was also fertile in ideas, and had unusual tact and 
discrimination ; as long as she lived she never failed to lay 
plans for removing the debt which the women of the church 
had assumed. 

The Woman's Aid Society found her a most successful 
officer and solicitor, and much of their work was planned 
in her home, before we had church parlors. She taught a 
class of boys in the Sunday School for several years. 

Mrs. Lawrence was one of the first corporators of the 

Hospital. 

Maria W. Smith. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 177 

MRS. WILLIAM WALLACE FREEMAN 
" Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord" 
The death of Mrs. Freeman in December, 1896, took 
from the church one active in sympathy and service. From 
her first coming to North Adams in 1863 she identified 
herself with the church and its work ; giving freely of time 
and self in the spirit which more than doubles all other 
gifts. Her devotion to her home and family was very 
beautiful and was widely known. It was her wish to share 
the sweet home influence with others, which led to her work 
among the Chinese, and for years she gathered around her 
the homeless Orientals who labored here. She was very 
active in the temperance work in this city. To those who 
were closely associated with her in ties of friendship, who 
united their efforts with hers in the upbuilding of Christ's 
cause, who mingled tears of joy and of sorrow with her, 
her name will ever be surrounded with tender, happy 
memories. Helen Lambert Gallup. 

MRS. MARTHA P. WRIGHT 

" And a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared 
the Lord " 

There is in many a heart a book of remembrance 
wherein are tender records of the life of one who was " not 
disobedient unto the heavenly vision." Mrs. Wright's life 
spanned the years from May n, 181 2, to February 22, 1900. 
It was not until 1871 that she came to North Adams with 
her daughter (now Mrs. John A. Rice). She loved this 
church, and though she could never actively engage in its 
work, she interested herself in its success and inspired 
others to efficient service. 

Attractive in person, with winning manners, wise and 
comforting in her counsels, it was not strange that young 



1 78 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

and old were drawn to her. She possessed strength of will, 
courage, great patience and the internal harmony and poise 
of character that come to those who dwell with God in 
love. 

It was during her later years that Mrs. Wright became 
so dear to me, and the very last ones I thought the most 
beautiful of all. Evening shadows were falling, and she 
was gradually laying aside the activities of life. Sheltered 
from its storms, and crowned with the love of children and 
grandchildren, even to the third generation, she trustingly 
awaited the things to come. It was then that her room 
became to so many of us a sacred place where we were 
lifted above the cares of life, and our outlook broadened as 
by a vision from a mountain top. Every such life and 
character reveals anew the life of God in the soul of 
humanity. Ella Elizabeth Hunter. 

FRANCES E. SWIFT 

What worthy tribute can I bring to lay on this altar, 
in affectionate remembrance? How shall I speak her 
matchless worth ? A woman of many virtues, "whose price 
is far above rubies." 

With a character possessed of intense energy and 
strong convictions, of great kindness of heart and unselfish 
love ; she worked with untiring zeal for the accomplish- 
ment of the greatest good to whatever worthy object 
claimed her attention, looking out by the way for every 
opportunity to lighten a burden, or lift the despondent, 
into her own atmosphere of unfailing cheer and courage. 

For every good word and work, she gave in unstinted 
measure her time, her sympathy, her earnest thought. In 
the spirit of the Master, in whom she trusted, and in whose 
footsteps she followed, she gave herself. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 179 

For those who have lived and loved, and walked and 
worked with her in common interest, sweet and sacred will 
be the memory of her noble life. 

Take from it the lesson it imparts, make a conscientious 
use of life. "Work while it is yet day." 

In affectionate remembrance, 

Anna M. Richmond. 

THE DEAR MOTHER 

Mary C. Quackenbush passed the eighty-sixth mile- 
stone of her life's journey, leaving the record of an active 
useful life, and the memory of a true womanhood, whose 
duty and devotion to home and family she accepted as a 
sacred trust, and faithfully kept the charge. 

Her happy buoyant spirit was the charm of her nature. 
Old age held her sympathy, but not her companionship. 
She loved the young and they in return loved her. She 
lived not in regrets of the past, neither in forebodings of 
the future, but in the ever present, where she found abund- 
ant pleasure and interest. Her life was like a psalm not 
all of joy and rejoicing, not all of sadness and complaint, 
but a unison, through which the spirit of faith, hope and 
good cheer came like a benediction to her soul, to lighten 
its burden and to brighten the way. 

So when the end came, and the last amen was spoken, 
it found her willing and desirous to depart, knowing that 
"to awaken in God's likeness, she should be satisfied." 
In loving remembrance, 

Anna M. Richmond. 



Sketch of the Ladies' Aid Society 

Mrs. Charles H. Cutting. 

Who can forget the brave workers of long ago, when 
our church and chapel had not the modern conveniences of 
today. The work accomplished then may not have assumed 
the proportions that later dates in our records give of the 
society ; still with the kitchen in the basement and other 
things as crude and inconvenient the present work seems 
to appear in a lesser light. 

Let us then give honor and tribute to the women who 
battled with the work of the past, and in the review of their 
labors find courage for the future. 

This society was first organized at the home of our 
pastor, Dr. Lewellyn Pratt, in September, 1872, under the 
name of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, with the following 
officers enrolled: President, Mrs. Lewellyn Pratt; vice 
president, Mrs. James T. Robinson; corresponding secre- 
tary, Mrs. Pratt; recording secretary and treasurer, Mrs. 
Helen Butler ; Executive Committee, Mrs. Edwin Thayer, 
Mrs. E. B. Penniman, Mrs. A. E. Babbitt, Mrs. A. W. 
Richardson and Mrs. William Martin. 

At this meeting it was voted to give the attention and 
work of the women to any need that presented itself, either 
foreign or home. As years passed on and the work grew, 
committees were appointed to take charge of the different 
branches, so it was that the Foreign and Home Missionary 
Societies were formed, which will be reported later. 

Then follow records of meetings and work that make 
the heart glad as it reads of them. These duties met so 



182 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

bravely and well probably seemed to the participants as if 
they were a tangled web, but like the tapestry workers who 
only see the wrong side of the picture until it is finished, 
so we believe this work stands and that our Father in 
Heaven will look upon it in its completeness, and speak 
the words "well done." Some we believe have already 
heard these words and are now chanting His praises around 
the throne, and others God in His mercy has spared to us. 
Let me take you in thought to some of them resting quietly 
in their homes. Watch their faces with the heavenly love 
already resting upon them as they sit with silvered hair 
and folded hands, and note that every heart beat is for this 
church. God bless them ! They are our benediction and 
blessing. Who would not work with such inspiration ? 
In the years after activity was impossible, these mothers of 
ours have been doing quietly but surely for us. 

The women of our church have with hearts and hands 
assisted those over the seas and within the borders of our 
own country with wonderful helpfulness ; but nestling 
closest to their hearts has been the dear church home. 
Her needs have been their study and you all know how 
much has been accomplished. I shall not enter into 
figures in this review, although the amounts raised would 
reach the sum of several thousands; but figures seem 
insignificant compared with the heart and thought of it 
all, which has been the uplifting of church life socially 
and financially. 

This society has been the recipient of many gifts, but 
time and space forbid my mentioning" only those of later 
date. 

Mrs. Babbitt, always ready to aid in any work for this 
church, in dictating her last wishes bequeathed the sum of 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 183 

three hundred dollars which has since been received and 
applied on chapel debt as she wished. 

Mr. Rogers (one of our beloved ones) gave part of his 
family silver to the society, and it has been very helpful at 
different times. 

A gift that has given great happiness is the beau- 
tiful new range which is now in our kitchen, and will be 
used for the first time during our anniversary. It was do- 
nated by Mrs. E. B. Penniman. 

We would acknowledge these and other gifts with 
hearty thanks and appreciation. No one but the workers 
know the real joy these remembrances give. 

Besides helping to pay for the chapel, which the ladies 
have done and are still doing, they have purchased and 
paid for the house next to the church. About five years 
ago the society was confronted with the thought that un- 
less they interfered the land formerly owned by them 
would fall into hands entirely outside of the church, and 
perhaps make it impossible to obtain any of it if needed at 
some future time. Therefore with a view of protecting the 
property from undesirable surroundings, the ladies have 
purchased two additional houses and have already so far 
reduced the indebtedness that it is no longer a burden to 
carry. This work has not been allowed to interfere with 
the varied needs of the church as they have presented 
themselves, but is being cheerfully carried on in connec- 
tion with other duties. 

This is the birthday of the Church. Let us draw 

nearer, love her more ; let God's fresh air and sunshine in, 

that it may not only warm our own hearts but all those 

who enter its doors, that they may join with us in singing : 

" I love thy kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode." 






Sketch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary- 
Society 



Mrs. John A. Rice. 

A little more than twenty-six years ago our Foreign 
Missionary Society was organized. The record says : " A 
meeting of the ladies of the First Congregational church 
in North Adams, Mass., was held in their chapel on Wed- 
nesday afternoon, November 3, 1875, for the purpose of or- 
ganizing a missionary society, auxiliary to the Woman's 
Board of Missions in Boston. Sixteen ladies were present. 
The meeting was opened by Mrs. L,ewellyn Pratt, by 
reading the scriptures and prayer, after which Mrs. W. P. 
Porter was chosen secretary." 

The first officers of the society were : President, Mrs. 
I^ewellyn Pratt; vice presidents, Mrs. William Martin, 
Mrs. A. E. Babbitt, Mrs. Shepard Thayer and Mrs. Mary 
Hunter Williams ; secretary, Mrs. W. P. Porter ; treasurer, 
Mrs. Belle Hunter Chase. 

This little band of faithful, consecrated women worked 
earnestly until the membership was increased to fifty. A 
meeting was held each month, usually in the chapel, 
although one is occasionally reported at the home of some 
member. Shall we ever forget the meetings at the par- 
sonage, or with Mrs. Babbitt, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. Freeman, 
Mrs. A. P. Butler, Mrs. Martin, and Mrs. Thayer. As we 
recall them we seem to see again the dear faces and hear 
the voices raised in earnest prayer. May their spirit rest 
upon those who follow them. 



186 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

After the death of Mrs. Belle Hunter Chase, Mrs. 
Charles H. Ingalls held the office of treasurer until 1879. 
Since then the secretary has also performed the duties of 
treasurer. In October, 1877, the society became an aux- 
iliary of the Berkshire branch. Mrs. Martin was the 
second president, followed by Mrs. M linger in 1878. At 
this time Mrs. Williams became secretary, and for several 
years gave the reports of the meetings, bringing inspiration 
and help always. 

Mrs. Merriam gave faithful service in the same office, 
with great devotion and special fitness. 

And then Allie Porter, one of our youngest members ; 
her willing spirit and bright and happy face will always 
be a pleasant memory to us. 

In 1894, at the annual meeting, Mrs. J. C. Goodrich 
was made president, and Mrs. J. P. Coyle vice-president. 

We have only mentioned a few of the women who 
have been faithful, earnest workers in this society ; there 
are many others, for the membership has increased. 

From 1878 to 1902 we have sent to the branch treas- 
ury $3183.27. We have contributed to schools and for the 
support of missionaries in China, Japan, India, Turkey and 
Mexico, and our studies of these countries, with the aid of 
maps which have been given us, have been most interest- 
ing. We have a library containing thirty volumes. 

This year our society has been happy to make life 
members of Mrs. E. A. Harrison and Mrs. J. C. Goodrich — 
an expression of love and appreciation for their prayerful, 
devoted efforts for many years in this branch of our church 
work. The present officers of the society are : President, 
Mrs. Herbert E. Wetherbee; vice-presidents, Mrs. E. M. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 



187 



Harrison and Mrs. F. J. Merriam ; secretary and treasurer, 
Mrs. John A. Rice. 

And now at this seventy-fifth anniversary of our be- 
loved church, we are glad to report a " Cradle Roll " just 
formed in connection with our auxiliary. The children, 
our most precious gems for our Diamond Jubilee. May they 
help to bring the light to earth's dark places, and in the 
years to come know the joy of being " co-laborers with 
Christ." 

The Christ stands before us and says " Come to me." 
You say " Must I?" He answers " You may" He will 
not even say " You must." You may and duty loses itself 
in privilege. 

Cradle Roll, Organized April 29, 1902. 
Eleanor Spruill, Christina McLeod Ritchie, 

Robert Keyes Thompson, Stanley Booth Illingsworth, 

James Macdonald Memmott, 
Frederick William Memmot, 
William Wallace Richmondt, 
Alice Jones, 
Helen Aldrich Jones, 



William Wesley McDonald, 
Ruth Harriet McMillin 
William Allen Newton, 
Herman Locke Carlisle, 
Stuart Brookings Carlisle, 
Margaret Coyle Barber, 
Norman Lafayette Millard, 
Alice Maud Hayden, 
Eleanor Christie Merritt, 
Elizabeth Naomi Leitch, 
John Palmer Leitch, 
Arthur Leitch, 
Margaret Wardrop Cousins, 
Helen Kean Cousins, 
Lois Crum Macphail, 



George Robert Chilson, 
Francis William Warren, 
Matthew David Lowrie, 
Franklin Henry Whitney, 
Margaret Anna Whitney, 
Durant Hunter Richmond 
Wallace E. Brown, 
Charles Howard Lewis, 
Raymond Cutler, 
Howard Gillies. 



Mary Quackenbush Richmond. 



Extracts from Address on Congregational 
Liberty. 



Anna L. Dawes. 

I am to say a few words to you upon our heritage of 
freedom, Congregational Liberty. More than three score 
years and ten have written themselves into the living 
epistle of this church, but still it is young with an immor- 
tal youth. A song of praise sounds in all our ears. The 
joy of today is the joy of freedom, but not as in the ancient 
jubilee a joy of freedom after bondage. Rather it is the 
joy of children gathered in the Father's house, to tell over 
the things which the Lord hath wrought for three gener- 
ations, to rejoice in the good hand of our God. This 
festival comes to a church of the order of freedom, whose 
name gathers up the fellowship of saints, and whose rule 
and order is liberty. It is with overflowing joy we give 
thanks, in an atmosphere compounded all of freedom. The 
silver trumpet rings out clear and full with a song of praise 
— the sound of them that triumph, the voice of them that 
feast. For on the posts of your doors is written Congrega- 
tional freedom, and over your altar shines the promise of 
Christian liberty. 

We are free born. " The Jerusalem which is above is 
free which is our mother." Yet this liberty becomes but a 
vain boast unless we stop now and then to see what it 
means. What does it do for us? What have we learned 
in these seventy-five years — which yet were years of ser- 
vice, not of servitude — of the value of this our birthright ? 



190 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

I have wished that we should use this season to con- 
sider some little corner of our great opportunity, lest we 
sell our birthright for pottage mixed at larger hearths. For 
it is only too true that of late, in our happy liberty, we are 
day by day forgetting our opportunity, making haste to 
barter our freedom from very carelessness. Over and over 
we make the gate of liberty a way of entrance for alien 
methods and foreign ideas. We need to learn a reason for 
the faith that is in us, and swear a new loyalty to its altars, 
upholding its banner with new strength. 

Thus there is a special fitness in considering at such a 
time as this what it means to be of the Pilgrim faith, and 
in rejoicing over some of its opportunities. Three ways in 
which this freedom exhibits itself have become so familiar 
we have forgotten their very existence — Method, Thought, 
Fellowship — and it is in these terms that I would consider 
it. It is in the light of this three-fold freedom that each 
Congregational church stands out in such sharp outline. It 
is this individualism which makes this church loom so 
large. In Method, in Thought, in Fellowship it has shown 
forth the way of freedom, the high thought, the communion 
of saints. A living branch, the life of the Vine clothed 
it with ever new beauty and hung it with the purple glory 
of the fruit. 

As you have walked in the way of freedom, the nurs- 
ing mother of your thought was liberty. How have your 
ministers made this pulpit count for freedom till, a city set 
upon a hill, its light has shone over the whole world, wit- 
nessing from its beginning through every decade to truth, 
righteousness, the Father's love, to the Apostolic succession 
of saints, to the freedom of the faith, the brotherhood of 
man, the spirit in the world; witnessing today with elo- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 191 

quent words to the constant and perpetual manifestation 
of God, and with more eloquent life showing Him forth 
unto His children. 

And in the web of life woven by this whole commun- 
ity, this church freely served in a gracious fellowship. In 
laborings oft, in watchings constant, in all that befell the 
Kingdom of God instant in season, a long roll of men and 
women have stood in this place as good servants of the 
Master who shall find His talents grown one hundred fold. 

I would speak to you of the church, not of religion. 
Religion is of all times and all churches. But today we 
speak of the church, the church which expresses this re- 
ligion and is the body of Christ ; the church which gives 
love its opportunity to become deed ; turns faith into the 
life of the Spirit. The actualization of religion is given 
us by the church — outward and visible sign of inward and 
spiritual grace. 

The church means more to women than we always 
remember. We are oppressed with the narrowness of life. 
Beyond our control it falls to us to be concerned with de- 
tails, and bricklaying was never inspiring even for temple 
walls. But the methods of the church are applied to great 
problems, her thoughts go on high emprise, her fellowship 
widens with the seas, and breaks all barriers. As scholar 
in the school of spiritual life, as individual thinker, as 
apostle to the world, the church gives woman her oppor- 
tunity. What woman does for the church is of little 
moment. It is what the church does for her that we need 
to consider — her open heaven, not her treadmill. What 
does it not mean, then, when the church comes to her with 
no rule of life, no scheme of thought, no barred fellowship, 
but in the freedom of the Spirit opens every way to the 



192 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

Infinite, through every spiritual affinity and human fellow- 
ship leading to the Divine, in that perfect freedom which 
is the privilege of children. 

See how the heavens opened to the women who count- 
ed themselves of the company of Jesus. Think of Mary, 
companioning with angels and arch-angels ; of Elizabeth 
and Anna, severe and saintly prophets of a new earth and 
a new heaven ; of her, an outcast, who exchanged the ways 
that lead to death for the immortal holiness of the saint ; 
of that mother whose ambitions for her sons widened unto 
the thrones of God; of the Gentile woman whose faith 
served to batter down the immemorial walls of race, and 
of the sisters whose perpetual grace it is to have furnished 
the Lord Christ with friendship. Where shall you find 
more diverse beginning, where so great a common glory 
grown therefrom, through Him who made these women 
gates of single pearl in His New Jerusalem ? New thought, 
new life came richly to them all, and in their footsteps we 
still walk, following our Lord in His great fellowship. 

To us of the New England churches this freedom to 
choose and to think and to feel has become so common 
that as I have said we do not always count its worth ; the 
freedom of method in the church is to us so thoroughly the 
habit of life that w r e forget its meaning and its value. We 
forget that we are free to express our own life, that no pre- 
sent exigency or custom of other environment can be made 
to fit the body of our growing. Too frequently we forget 
the dignity of our calling and that freedom does not always 
mean freedom to change. In this restless time it is often 
a liberty to stand still. In eager haste we have sometimes 
given up the old in this fancied freedom, and forgotten 
that each of our Congregational habits is a stone in a 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 193 

memorial pillar. The children of our churches do not 
know why deacons serve, nor what protest lies in a simple 
sacrament, nor the grandeur of a long prayer, nor the 
unique glory of the teaching sermon. We have a way in 
these and other things — our own way — I plead for its 
remembering. 

Freedom of thought means a Gospel to the mind, and 
that — that chiefly — is the Congregational glory. By all the 
light that broke on John Robinson, by the magnificent 
severity of Cotton Mather, by the grandeur of that will 
which Edwards invoked, by the clear faith of Horace 
Bushnell, we are bound to find the truth for our own time. 
Thought is our birthright ; for us, children of light and 
leading, there is a high and solemn duty to men's thinking, 
a duty belonging to the liberty of our way, and not to be 
lightly forborne. Other churches may seek the wanderer 
in different fashion, we are bound to reason with him ; 
other folds may worship in splendid ritual, ours must seek 
an open communion with the Almighty ; other pulpits may 
develop the Christian man through his work, we must 
teach him. It is for this we are sent. And by this token 
we must with courage face the unknown truth, with sin- 
cerity welcome the unwelcome idea. We may not shrink 
from any new interpretation or draw back from any path 
of investigation. But reverently, vigorously, with a firm 
hold on what is still good — and only that — we must go be- 
fore the army of God, in the very van of progress, for this 
most difficult, most disheartening and yet most inspiring 
of all duties, the discovery of new truth, the trying of the 
spirits to see whether they be of God. The safety of truth, 
the vital power of thought, the right of the single con- 
science — these things are ours — ours as a church — ours 



i 9 4 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

every man and woman of us. To this end we must not 
hinder any development, must seek all help. So we may 
rise on the equal wings of faith and love to the very foot 
of the throne. 

Again as a method and thought, so in fellowship, it is 
for us to go on to perfection. We are of one family with 
him who calls God Father ; whether he names that name 
in narrowest word, or in vaguest philosophy, him we wel* 
come to the household of faith. Nay more, we seek every- 
where, in all lands and all classes, for these our brethren. 
We believe in the Holy Ghost. In such high and holy 
fashion do we hold this our Trinitarian faith that we seek 
and find our God in every revelation, and would fain open 
the blind eyes of our brethren to Him who stands every- 
where in their midst. So it is that we come to the darkest 
missionary field, with a consuming zeal, for there we meet 
and make known our God ; and so it is that where the 
clashing classes turn perplexity into discord, we work with 
our Master in courage and hope. To every heathen of the 
slums, to every pagan of the land of darkness we hold out 
the hand of a brother. The free children of the truth find 
in him, not alone the child of God, but the indwelling 
Spirit, and count him the brother of today, the saint of an 
eternal tomorrow. 

The children of the Pilgrim name are free only that 
they may serve. In the olden time the servant who went 
forth on the Day of Jubilee came back to serve. Of his own 
choice, in the midst of the great gladness, with joy in his 
heart, he gave himself up to his Lord for service. And 
with the mark of the listening ear they marked him. So 
by the listening ear are we marked servants of the Highest. 
Where our Master calls we walk with ready step in the un- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 195 

tried path ; when our Lord speaks we listen, eager for the 
new truth ; where our Christ dwells we go to serve Him and 
His children. And thus in method, in thought, in fellow- 
ship, we are free to serve, and rejoice with the great shout 
that for so many years we have kept the faith, and in 
solemn covenant pledge ourselves to more loyal devotion 
for all the years that we and our children shall live upon 
the earth. 



The Woman's Home Missionary Society 



Mrs. David A. Anderson 

The existing organization of the Woman's Home Mis- 
sionary Association came into being in the autumn of 1882, 
and at the instigation of our beloved Mrs. Munger. Many 
of us had just been stirred by the thrilling address of Miss 
Sibyl Carter, then one of the teachers of the New West 
Education Commission, and the time seemed ripe for the 
formation of a society that should help to further such 
work as hers. 

A group of women whose names have always been as- 
sociated with missions met for this purpose at the home of 
our sainted sister, that mother in Israel, Mrs. A. B. Bab- 
bitt. Among them were Mrs. Jas. T. Robinson, Mrs. A. P. 
Butler, Mrs. T. T. Munger, Mrs. W. W. Freeman, Mrs. 
Edwin Thayer, Mrs. Shepard Thayer, Mrs. Wm. Martin. 
Other names were soon added to our list. Mrs. Jewett, 
Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. Goodrich, Mrs. G. L. Rice, Mrs. Barber 
and others "of whom the greater part remain unto this 
present, but some are fallen asleep. " Mrs. H. G. B. Fish- 
er was elected president, Mrs. Babbitt vice-president and 
the junior member was elected secretary and treasurer. 
Mrs. Fisher's residence was out of town so large a part of 
the year that she could rarely meet with us, so within a 
year from that time Mrs. Jas. T. Robinson was elected 
president. Her beautiful prayers and deep, Christian per- 
sonality blessed our circle for a long time. She was suc- 
ceeded by Mrs. Martin, whose leadership proved a great 



198 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

source of strength, and the inspiration of her bright, Chris- 
tian character still cheers and strengthens us, when we 
sometimes meet at her home for our mite box opening. 

Mrs. Arthur Robinson has also served us as president ; 
then Miss Dora Barber, and then our own Mrs. Coyle lent 
the help of her cheerful and broad Christianity to the office 
for a term of years. Now we have Mrs. W. S. Garland for 
president. In the early life of our society we had an hour 
for our meetings in the midst of the sewing society's after- 
noon, but when the sewing became so imperative that there 
seemed to be no time for us, we withdrew, and held our 
monthly meetings by ourselves on Fridays at Mrs. Bab- 
bitt's, " where prayer was wont to be made." Early in Dr. 
Coyle's pastorate, however, when the Tuesday afternoon 
meetings were regularly established, we gladly consented to 
take one of the Tuesdays of each month for our home mis- 
sionary meeting and this has continued until the present 
time. 

During our first year we became auxiliary to the 
Woman's Home Missionary Association of Massachusetts 
and we have done most of our work through that society. 

We have sought to be of use to the home missionaries 
who are doing our work on the frontier, to whom we have 
sent barrels of clothing, reading matter, etc., first trying to 
discover their needs and then buying, to meet them, as good 
articles of wearing apparel as if for ourselves, sometimes 
sending money for a new little organ for the struggling 
church. We have sent scholarships to ■western colleges — 
money to build parsonages, in order that precious lives 
need not be sacrificed by reason of exposure in illy built 
houses in cold climates. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 199 

We have sent scholarships to Booker T. Washington's 
Tuskegee, and barrels and barrels of clothing there and to 
other colored schools in the south. Our voluntary offerings 
at monthly meetings would not have been sufficient for all 
this, so we have sometimes when having a definite object 
in view made definite requests for aid from persons not in 
the habit of attending our meetings, and we have record of 
many a generous response to such appeals from persons 
who realize with us that our relationship to our purse is 
not that of ownership, but of stewardship. 

The smallest amount raised in any one year was 
$10.00, the first year of our existence ; the largest was 
$545.00, in 1896. This sum is only part money, and part 
the value of barrels sent. The total sum raised and dis- 
pensed up to 1902, money and value of barrels together, 
amounts to $3189.00. " These are our sheaves ! " Perhaps 
of few of us would the Master say, " She hath done w T hat 
she could," but we have sent our prayers with our pennies, 
and when our offerings have been smaller than we wished 
we have rejoiced to remember that He who could so multi- 
ply the few loaves and fishes that thousands might be fed, 
has still such power that in His hands our small offerings 
may be so multiplied that they may be made the means of 
bringing blessing to many. 

And so we still mean to go forward in the spirit of the 
Master, with undiminished zeal, with undaunted courage, 
and with love for mission work all over the wide, wide 
world ! And in His name we are trying to help save 
America to save the world ! 



The Woman's Association 



Mrs. Roscoe L. Chase 

The desire to bring to all a more perfect understand- 
ing of the various parts of the church work led to the or- 
ganization on September n, 1894, of The Woman's Asso- 
ciation. 

Its components were naturally all the societies in the 
church carried on by women. 

The aim was to promote unity of purpose and in- 
creased efficiency of effort. Meetings are held quarterly 
and reports are given from each society of work accom- 
plished during the three months, and of hopes and plans 
for the future. 

The association appoints the flower committee and 
aids the pastor and Sunday School superintendent in any 
social or relief work which is required. 

Since organization the association has had four presi- 
dents—Mrs. Geo. W. Chase, Mrs. J. C. Goodrich, Mrs. A. 
E. Richmond and Mrs. C. H. Cutting, who is at present in 
office. 




1871-REv. LEWELLYX PRATT-1877 



The Fellowship of the Church 



Rev. Leweeeyn Pratt, D. D. 

This anniversary ought not to pass without deepening 
the sense of fellowship and strengthening its bonds. So 
much is latent and unexpressed in ordinary times that only 
occasions call out, that it is well to mark distinct seasons 
and epochs in order to appreciate what really exists. It is 
so in the family, in the neighborhood, in the nation. We 
do not know how much of family affection, of neighborli- 
ness or of patriotism there is till some occasion calls them 
out. Let unusual joy or sorrow come to any family, and 
hitherto undemonstrative neighbors flock to testify their 
interest. Let the country make its call at some great 
crisis, and patriots spring up on every side. So in church 
life. In ordinary times the fellowship seems to exist only 
in name — members of the same church scarcely know each 
other. 

Our tendency is to regard the church as incidental and 
convenient, not essential ; and, contrasting the individual 
and his personal faith with the outer system — the church — 
to look upon the church as only an instrument for saving 
individual souls, to be taken up and used according to the 
exigencies of individual life. It can be depended upon in 
certain times of need, and withdrawn from, or not used, 
when that individual need is not felt. Men naturally de- 
sire to combine and to cooperate, but the reality, the 
essence of religion is not to be found in this combination ; 



204 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

it must be in the individual soul in its solitary and secret 
hold upon the life that is given it in Jesus Christ. 

Now we admit that personal faith is the essential mat- 
ter, and that the outward system or organization is noth- 
ing except so far as it has living, believing souls in whom, 
through whom and for whom it exists — as in our funda- 
mental Congregational principle that the church is com- 
posed of regenerate souls. We make this inner personal 
faith the root and base of our church system; and in that 
sense it is primary, and the system secondary and subor- 
dinate. But is this the right way of looking at the mat- 
ter — this contrasting of the two, the inward and the out- 
ward, personal faith and the church, as if they were rivals, 
different in trend and brought into artificial combina- 
tion with one another, as if they could exist separately? 
We might as well discuss the question which is the more 
important, the body or the members of the body — they be- 
long to one great whole, each incomplete without the 
other. 

For what is personal faith ? What is its character and 
nature? Is it private because it is personal? Is it solitary 
because it is individual? Can faith be conceived of as isolated, 
separated and alone? Can you confine its action to the 
secrecy of the separate and solitary soul ? In its very es- 
sence it is union, it is the act through which admittance 
is gained into a body — the Body of Christ. Through faith 
the soul is newly begotten, begotten into a family, born of 
God into membership, communion, companionship, citizen- 
ship, born into a household, a society, a commonwealth, a 
kingdom. The soul that believes, that lays hold of Christ, 
is by that very act introduced into the relationships of cor- 
porate life. All the figures by which the church is repre- 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 205 

sented emphasize this — the vine, the family, the body, the 
temple. As a branch, the wild and lawless separate soul is 
grafted into a stock with the other branches ; as a waif and 
orphan, the regenerated one is brought in and made a 
child of a household—" He setteth the solitary in fami- 
lies : " as a member detached, it is made an integral and 
reciprocal part of the body ; as a living stone, now shaped 
and fitted, it is builded into the holy temple — so that as 
Paul writes to the Ephesians : though " ye were separate 
from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel 
and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having 
no hope and without God in the world ; now in Christ Je- 
sus ye that once were far off are made nigh, so that ye are 
no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citi- 
zens with the saints, and of the household of God, being 
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom 
each several building fitly framed together groweth into a 
holy temple in the Lord, in Whom ye also are builded to- 
gether for a habitation of God in the spirit. " 

Christian faith cannot in its very nature be a solitary 
affair of the isolated, individual man, it cannot by the 
necessary law of its being. For its object — God Himself — 
is no self-contained Being, living for Himself alone ; He is 
the God of love and communion, and the faith that is fed 
from such a source, which is inbreathed by the spirit of 
Divine union, such a faith must be social and corporate in 
its very nature, for it is like its source, and it has a social 
and corporate character in its very formation. One has 
said that if you could conceive the soul that is new-created 
in Christ placed under a spiritual microscope and examined 
by some scientific eye that was able to read its secrets, it 



206 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

would be said : "This is a creature that evidently belongs 
to a greater whole. Its construction proves that it is 
adapted to social intercourse, it has in it the ligatures, 
joints and sinews by which it could be knit into an articu- 
lated body. It would be possible to suggest the probable 
structure of that larger body by close examination of this 
fragment." 

At the very first, when there was but one man who 
apprehended Him and made confession of his faith, Christ 
declared that that carried with it the principle of fraternity, 
the germ of community. When Peter cried out "Thou art 
the Christ," our Lord saw in that confession of faith, the 
beginning of the structure of His church. "Thou art 
Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church." The 
object of faith is social — a Triune God ; the inward motives 
of faith are social also. Instead, then, of imagining that 
each individual man in his faith, in his religious character 
stands and acts alone, and has afterwards for reasons of ex- 
pediency to unite himself with other believers into a 
church ; instead of its being a matter of indifference or 
personal choice whether the believing soul shall be joined to 
the church, the very nature of faith requires it ; and that faith 
is open to grave suspicion which does not seek immediately 
the ordained fellowship of the church. There, in that or- 
dained system, in that society prepared for it with all its 
ministries and correlated duties, the new-born soul is 
enabled to realize and train and practice those social char- 
acteristics which belong to its essential construction, it be- 
gins to exercise those relationships that are vital to its 
growth. In submitting to this form of combination it is 
not taking up some strange or artificial agency, rather it is 
coining to itself, discovering its own character, realizing its 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 207 

own natural possibilities, it is fulfilling its own inherent 
necessities, it is calling out its gifts, testing its powers, 
securing its growth. And while we cannot say that there 
is no true faith that is not incorporated into a church, we 
must believe that those who hold themselves aloof miss 
something of their complete development, something lies 
dormant and unused. I believe that this instinct of church- 
fellowship has always been strong in this church, whose 
anniversary we are now celebrating. I remember well in 
the five or six busy years that I spent here, the natural 
and unquestioning way in which those who accepted 
Christ as the Master of their lives came into the church. 
They came, not grudgingly, but as a matter of course, not 
asking, "why must I join the church?" but came, cheerfully 
and eagerly, like children coming home. It always seemed 
to me one of the surest signs of the healthiness and gen- 
uineness of the spiritual work here. 

I have preferred thus to call attention to the radical or 
fundamental plan of fellowship, rather than to methods for 
maintaining it. These latter are all suggested by the com- 
prehensive figures under which the church is represented 
in the New Testament. 

It is a " household " — an establishment or organized 
kingdom of work, in which there are varied activities, all 
united under a system and moving under a fixed law and 
an orderly plan. And fellowship here is to be secured by 
trained and masterful skill, each doing his own allotted task 
and cooperating harmoniously with the rest for the accom- 
plishment of the great common purpose. 

Or it is a "family" in which kinship makes its claim, 
and where each soul has its place and worth in the simple 
fact that it belongs there. And fellowship here means 



208 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

consideration, care and sympathy ; and that to be a Chris- 
tian brother or sister shall be claim enough, imperative and 
conclusive, and that all shall be made to feel at home. 

Or it is a "body" organized and knit into unity to be 
the harmonious agent of the indwelling spirit. And fellow- 
ship here is secured by such closeness of union and inter- 
communication that one heart shall beat within, and that 
if one member suffer all suffer with it, and such that 
Christ may make Himself known and find clear expression 
through it. 

Or, once more, it is a "temple" symmetrical and beauti- 
ful, in which each stone has its place numbered and fitted 
and laid in course according to the architect's plan, a sacred 
and purified building of which it can be said " God is there." 
And fellowship there is exhibited by submitting to 
such shaping and polishing in individual experience that 
each living stone can find place and contribute its share to 
the grace and symmetry of the whole. The Persians have 
a proverb " A stone fit for a wall is not left to lie in the road- 
way," and the soul that has been shaped by grace is not to 
lie unused, it must find its niche in the uprising temple, 
itself supported by the courses that have been built before, 
and in turn furnishing support for those that are to follow. 

This anniversary, I said, ought to deepen this sense of 
fellowship. What continuity of life there has been here ! 
How the faith and the patience and fidelity and self-sacrifice 
of seventy-five years ago and of each succeeding year has 
made this church what it now is ! These reminiscences 
in which we have indulged have revealed to us the family 
to which we belong, the stock into which we have been 
grafted, the courses of the temple upon which we have been 
built. This review ought to inspire us with greater honor 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 209 

for this church of Christ — the gathering together and en- 
hancing of the separate and individual gifts and graces of 
the single lives that here have been evolved and developed. 
These pastors whose names you have been repeating have 
no more made the church than the church has made them, 
and all these others whose memories you bear in grateful 
remembrance are holding you in grateful love. What 
testimonies have come from those long absent of the en- 
during hold upon their affections this communion has made! 
A church of Christ ! what earthly organization, what society 
or club or fraternity can compare with it? This fellowship 
which takes hold of our very being, calls out our best 
powers, puts into exercise our highest aspirations and deep- 
est sympathies, unites us in the best work, holds us together 
in unselfish devotion to one and the same Lord and Master, 
animates us with one sanctifying spirit and trains us to 
dwell and work together in the Father's house of many 
mansions ! It is this fellowship that explains the joy of 
these services. 

And this service of communion with which we com- 
plete the series, what is it but the recognition of our 
fellowship with Christ and with each other? I rejoice 
with you that you have made this a part of your regular 
church order and growth, and not as is too often on such 
occasions an irregular piece of acting, a kind of dress- 
parade or a representation before the world of how the 
service is conducted. You meet tonight not to profess that 
you ought to be in union and fellowship, but to pledge your- 
selves anew to your Master and to welcome to this con- 
tinued history those who are to perpetuate it for the next 
generation. 



2 io SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

And those who come tonight to acknowledge their fam- 
ily relation, to take the place that has waited for them 
in the temple, will they not always remember this occasion, 
and will you not always remember them ? And shall they 
not be fully received, not as those who have simply " de- 
clared their intention," but as full citizens and sons, and 
have their place and duty at once assigned? And shall 
they not at once feel the recognition and welcome, and 
take their place not as strangers but as children ? 

Young friends, you have been absent for a while, now 
you have come home — take the joy and freedom and loving 
service of your Father's and our Father's house ? 

And now, dear friends of this dear old church, let us 
set our faces towards the future with courage and faith 
augmented by the memory of the past and by this fresh 
accession to our numbers. We prize the names of those 
who have gone before just in proportion as they gave them- 
selves unselfishly to the good of man and the glory of God. 
If it was good for them to encounter difficulty, to bear bur- 
dens, to work faithfully, it will be good for us. If it was 
good for them to sow that which they should not reap, 
it must be good for us to keep right on sowing — others are 
to come after us. We are the heirs of a great and 
precious heritage, and " to whom much has been given of 
them will much be required." 



APPENDIX 



APPENDIX A 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ANNIVERSARY. CONGRE- 
GATIONAL CHURCH 1827-1902 

The First Congregational church of North Adams, 
Massachusetts, will celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary 
from May nth to May 15th. 

The anniversary sermon will be preached Sunday 
morning, May nth, by Rev. Dr. Theodore T. Munger. In 
the evening the pastor, Rev. William L. Tenney, will re 
view the history of the church. 

Tuesday and Wednesday will be given up to short 
sketches of church work and tributes to former members. 
One session will be devoted to woman's work. 

Tuesday afternoon a supper will be served in the chap- 
el to invited guests, and a reunion will be held in the par- 
lors. 

Tuesday evening an address will be given by Rev. Dr. 
Washington Gladden. 

Wednesday evening there will be an address by Rev. 
Dr. Lewellyn Pratt, and our anniversary will close with 
the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Slipper. 

We hope to welcome many who have occupied our 
pulpit at different times, — President Henry Hopkins, Dr. 
John Bascom, Dr. Addison T. Ballard, Rev. George A. 
Jackson, President Alfred T. Perry and Rev. Dr. Lyndon 
Crawford. 



2 1 2 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

As one of our friends you are most cordially invited. 
If it will be possible for you to attend, kindly notify the 
chairman of the committee. 

Jennie Paul Goodrich, 
George W. Chase, 
Harriet A. Benton, 

Committee on Invitation. 

APPENDIX B 

LIST OF ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEES 

General Committee — Deacon M. C. Jewett, Deacon A. 
McDougall, Deacon G. W. Chase. Deacon James E. Hunter, 
Mr. Edwin Bond, Mr. C. H. Cutting, Mr. Thomas Sykes, 
Mr. E. B. Penniman, Mr. Daniel Barber, Mr. J. Q. Erwin, 
Mr. W. H. Bixby, Mrs. Sarah P. Porter, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Harrison, Mrs. L,ettie Warren, Mrs. Fannie Dibble, Mrs. 
W. B. Parmelee, Mrs. J. A. Rice, Mrs. F. P. Pearson, Mrs. 
Mary H. Williams, Mrs. J. C. Goodrich, Miss Annie B. 
Jackson, Mrs. Mary C. Coyle. 

Finance Committee — Mr. T. W. Sykes, Mr. J. E. Hunter. 
Mr. D. J. Barber, Mr. E. B. Penniman, Mr. James McGowan. 

Nominating Committee — Mrs. J. P. Goodrich, Mrs. 
Lettie Warren, Mrs. Fannie Dibble, Deacon J. E. Hunter. 

Committee on Invitation — Mrs. Jennie Paul Goodrich, 
Mr. George W. Chase, Miss Harriet Benton, Mr. C. O. 
Richmond. 

Program Committee — Rev. W. L. Tenney, Mrs. C. 
H. Cutting, Mrs. G. W. Chase. 

Printing Committee — Mr. Herbert Wetherbee, Miss 
Harriet Benton, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hunter. 

Entertainment Committee — Deacon D. A. Anderson, 
Deacon George French, Mrs. John A. Rice, Mrs. F. P. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 213 

Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. John Bond, Mrs. W. W. Richmond, 
Mr. C. Q. Richmond, Mr. E. A. Bond, Mrs. Lettie Warren. 

Reception Committee — Mr. J. E. Hunter, Mr. W. W. 
Butler, Mr. C. H. Cutting, Mr. T. W. Sykes, Mrs. C. H. 
Williams, Mrs. Shepherd Thayer, Mrs. John P. Coyle, Miss 
Nellie Perry, Miss Anna Jackson. 

Picture Committee — Mrs. D. A. Anderson, Mrs. Anna 
D. Baker, Mrs. Elizabeth T. Wright, Mr. L. M. Barnes, Mr. 
A. F. Davenport. 

Floral Committee — Miss Jennie Whitney, Mrs. D. J. 
Burbank. 

Ushers — Mr. A. Hunter, Mr. E. Barnard, Mr. J. Q. 
Erwin. 

Refreshment Committee — All the Ladies' Aid Society. 

APPENDIX C 

WATCHWORDS FOR THE ANNIVERSARY MEMBERS, WHO 

CAME INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE 

CHURCH MAY 14TH, 1902. 

From a sermon preached by Rev. John W. Yeoman s, 
our first pastor, June 22, 1828, in the school house, corner 
of Main and Eagle streets, — selected by his daughter, Mrs. 
Louisa Yeomans Boyd : " We can know nothing of things 
spiritual but what we learn of Him. It belongs therefore 
to us to receive His testimony with implicit confidence. 
We must not expect any spiritual light from inquiries pur- 
sued by our own reason without the help of Christ. The 
Kingdom of God consists in righteousness and peace and 
joy in the Holy Ghost, in believing, the pious state of the 
soul towards God as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. " 

From Rev. Addison Ballard, D. D., acting pastor from 
May 1, 1865 to April 1, 1866: "Try to make the world 



214 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 

better and you will be made better and happier by the 
world. " i. Sam. 3:10 — " Speak, for thy servant heareth. " 
Jer. 3:4 — " My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth. " 
Matt. 6. 6. — " Pray to thy Father which is in secret. " 

From Rev. Washington Gladden, D. D., pastor of the 
church from April 1, 1866, to March 23, 1871 : " Read in 
the new version, 2. Cor. IV ; 5, and remember that the 
grace of God comes into your lives not to find lodgment 
there, but to be multiplied and distributed. Every good 
gift of God, light, hope, comfort, courage, is given you to 
be multiplied. You are multipliers of God's grace. That 
is your business in the world. " 

From Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, D. D., pastor of the church 
from Dec. 7, 1871, to Sept. 1, 1876: " The last beatitude," 
Revelation, 22:14. " Blessed are they that do his com- 
mandments, that they may have right to the tree of life 
and may enter in through the gates into the city. " 

From Rev. Theodore T. Munger, D. D., pastor of the 
church from Dec. n, 1877, to Nov. 4, 1885. *The com- 
munion address in " Lamps and Paths " entitled " Vows as- 
sumed" from which these sentences are taken: "Never doubt 
the wisdom of what you now do, if you are consciously 
honest in it. What you are doing is right and wise. It is 
a step taken towards God ; it is putting your hand in the 
hand of your Eternal Friend. There can be no mistake in 
such an act. " 

From your present pastor, William L. Tenney : " Keep 
Jesus Christ at the very center of your intellect, your af- 
fections, your will. Never be afraid to trust His Spirit, 
wherever leads the way." John 12:32. "While ye have 
the light, believe in the light, that ye may become sons of 
light. " 

*A copy of " Lamps and Paths " was presented to each " Anniversary 
Member" by Dr. Munger. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 215 

From the loved pastor whose grave is among us, — 
Rev. John Patterson Coyle, D. D. "Young people, it is not a 
Godless nor a Christless fulness of life you are enjoying. 
It is the fulness of God and it was made and is being in- 
creased continually by the Christ. I bid you make the 
most of it, not imagining that the Christ life is lean and 
meagre, or chiefly represented by touch-nots. " 

Names of those received into the church. By letter — 
Louis C. Chase, Mrs. Edith M. Chase, Freelove Clark, Mrs. 
Helen L. Gallup. On profession of faith — Ethel Beer, 
Mabel Beer, George B. Chase, Florence L. Ford, Clarence 
W. Gallup, Francis E. Hardenbergh, Harry Hayden, Ster- 
ling Higley, Daisy L. Kerr, Jessie Kerr, John Mcintosh, 
James McGowan, Agnes M. Malcolm, Thomas C. Mal- 
colm, Joseph Iv. Malcolm, Cecilia Parkhurst, Clara J. 
Parkhurst, Norman Parkhurst, John H. Rice, Annie H. 
Squires, Ada M. Squires, Harriet Stroud, Helen Bernice 
Sweeney, Parker G. Tenney, Raymond Tufts, J. Crichton 
Taylor, Margaret C. Taylor, Christine C. Taylor. 

APPENDIX D 

LJST OE SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS* 
1 848-1 849, Deacon David C. Rogers. 
1849-1851, Deacon Robert W. B. McLellan. 
1 852-1 853, Deacon Henry Chickering. 

1854, Deacon J. E. Marshall. 
1855-Probably until 1862, Deacon Samuel Gaylord. 
1862-1867, No record of the superintendents. 
•f-1867-1875, Deacon George B. Perry. 

* We find no record in the Church Book until January 11, 1849, when it 
appears that Deacon Rogers, " Supt. of the Sabbath School," made a report. It 
is probable that the pastors acted as superintendents for at least part of the 
time before this date. 

t The name of the superintendent does not appear on the records during 
all this period, but the fact that Deacon Perry's name appears first upon the 
Sunday School committee warrants the belief that he was superinte ndent. 



2 1 6 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSA R Y 

1876, Mr. H. M. Harrington. 
1877-1882, Deacon George W. Chase. 
1883-1884, Deacon George B. Perry. 

1885, Mr. F. Demond. 

1885, Mr. W. W. Butler. 

1886, Mr. H. B. Potter. 

1887, Mr. F. S. Smith. 

1 888-1889, Deacon George B. Perry. 
1 890-1893, Mr. Franklin B. Whitney. 

1894, Mr. R. L. Chase. 

1895, Mr. Edwin Barnard. 

1896, Mr. H. E. Wetherbee. 

1897, Mr. R. A. Thompson. 
1898-1900, Deacon George W. Chase. 

1901, Lyman R. Allen. 

1902, W. S. Garland. 

APPENDIX E 

OUTLINE OF DEDICATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL 

CHURCH* 

"Showers early in the morning, later a beautiful day," 
says a diary. Rev. Addison Ballard was supplying in our 
pulpit though he lived at Williamstown. Rev. Ezekiel 
Russell and Dr. Robert Crawford, former pastors, were in 
the pulpit. The 1073 hymn in "Sabbath Hymn Book" 
was read by Mr. Russell, Mr. Ballard reading 29th chapter 
1st Chronicles and 2 1 st chapter Revelation. The invocation 
prayer, Rev. Calvin Durfee of Williamstown. Hymn 1038, 
Mr. Edwin Rogers led a chorus of eighteen members in a 
beautiful anthem ; Mr. Chas. Darling was at the organ. 
Mr. Russell preached the dedicatory sermon texts Lev. 
♦Contributed by Mrs. J. P. Goodrich. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 217 

19th chapter 30th verse and Psalm 96th, 6th verse. Mr. 
Ballard read letters and gave public thanks to the donors 
in that inimitable way of his. Dr. Crawford followed in 
the dedicatory prayer. The choir sang the 100th Psalm in 
anthem. Benediction by Dr. Russell. 

In the evening a sermon by Dr. Crawford, 8th Psalm was 
read, 1074 and 989 hymns were sung, followed by com- 
munion. 

Some of our neighbor guests were Hon. H. L. Dawes, 
Henry Chickering, formerly members of this parish, Rev. 
J. E. Walton, Wm. C. Plunkett, President Mark Hopkins, 
Professors Hopkins, Bascom, Perry and Griffin. 

APPENDIX F 

FAVORITE HYMNS OF SOME OF OUR OLDER SISTERS* 

Am I a Soldier of the Cross, Mrs. Deacon Gould, Mrs. 
David Rogers. 

Oh Could I Speak the Matchless Worth, Mrs. Deacon Mc- 
Lellan. 

Nearer My God to Thee, Mrs. Maria Gould. 

O for a Closer Walk with God, Mrs. Levi Stearns, Mrs. 
John Orr. 

Rise My Soul and Stretch Thy Wings, Mrs. Sarah R. Pen- 
niman. 

Watchman Tell Us of the Night, Mrs. Louisa Loomis. 

There is a Land of Pure Delight, Mrs. E. Russell. 

Rock of Ages Cleft for Me, Mrs. Jacob Chase, Mrs. H. L. 
Dawes, Mrs. James Marshall, Mrs. Susan Blackinton, 
Mrs. Charles Butler, Mrs. Martha Potter. 

My God How Endless is Thy Love, Mrs. Henry Chicker- 
ing, Mrs. Albert Paine. 
*Nearly this entire list was found in memoranda of Mrs. J. T. Robinson. 



2 1 8 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSAR Y 

I'm a Pilgrim and I'm a Stranger, Mrs. Deacon Munn, 

Mrs. Dr. Hawkes, Mrs. Thomas Holbrook. 
Sweet the Moments Rich in Blessing, Mrs. F. Robinson. 
My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Mrs. Dr. Crawford, Mrs. W. 

W. Freeman. 
How Gentle God's Commands, Mrs. A. P. Butler. 
Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone, Mrs. Albert Brown, Mrs. 

Edwin Thayer. 
Jerusalem My Happy Home, Mrs. Levi Randall. 
Jesus Lover of My Soul, Mrs. John Doane, Miss Rhoda 

Streeter, Mrs. Win. Erwin. 
O Worship the King All Glorious Above, Mrs. Janette 

Elliot Keeler. 
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Miss Amelia Mc- 

Lellan. 
How Firm a Foundation, Mrs. Truman Paul, Mrs. J. T. 

Robinson, Mrs. J. B. Jackson. 
Blest Be the Tie that Binds, Mrs. Wm. Martin. 
Come Holy Spirit Heavenly Dove, Mrs. Eliza Babbitt. 
Jesus Thy Name I Love, Mrs. T. T. Munger. 
One Sweetly Solemn Thought, Mrs. Harriet R. Merriam. 
Father Whate'er of Earthly Bliss, Mrs. Elizabeth Cone. 
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Mrs. James Flagg. 
Jesus Savior, Pilot Me, Mrs. A. Richardson. 
My Jesus as Thou Wilt, Mrs. E. Rogers. 

APPENDIX G 

It should be noted in this volume that the beautiful 
individual communion service presented to the church by 
Mr. John Parkhill of Fitchburg was first used at the com- 
munion season on the first Sunday of the new year — 1903. 



SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 219 

Doctor Gladden's address was lost in the mails and it 
was deemed necessary to print an abstract. Before the 
final binding of this volume, however, the manuscript was 
recovered and the complete address was inserted in place of 
the abstract. While this has disturbed the numbering of 
the pages, it will save our readers from the disappointment 
of not having the whole of this inspiring address. 



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